By Yemi Oyeyemi, Abuja
Abuja woke up to an unusual sight on Tuesday as long convoys of trucks rolled into the Federal High Court, heavy with more than just passengers – they carried the weight of a nation’s grief, anger, and demand for justice.
Under tight security, over 500 terror suspects were ushered into courtrooms, marking one of Nigeria’s largest coordinated prosecutions in recent history. Armed soldiers, operatives of the Department of State Services, and police officers formed an unyielding ring around the courthouse, signaling the gravity of the moment.
Inside, the air was tense.
At the center of the storm stood the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, flanked by Director of Public Prosecutions, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN. Together, they led a determined prosecution team tasked with untangling years of violence that have scarred northern Nigeria – attacks that have claimed over 2,000 lives and left countless homes in ruins.
“This is about justice, and justice must be seen to be done,” Fagbemi declared, noting that 227 suspects had already been arraigned before 10 judges in a single day. In a rare move, court proceedings continued through the Easter holiday, a sacrifice the Attorney General publicly commended.
To ensure transparency, observers from global and local organizations – including Amnesty International and the Nigerian Bar Association – sat quietly in the gallery, watching history unfold.
Justice Falls Swiftly
In one courtroom, Justice Binta Fatima Nyako wasted no time delivering a stern message.
A man identified as Hamatu Modu, accused of supplying food and intelligence to Boko Haram insurgents in Borno State, stood before the bench. Calm but resigned, he pleaded guilty to all four charges.
The sentence: 40 years imprisonment.
But following a plea from his counsel, the judge ruled the terms would run concurrently—reducing his actual time behind bars to 10 years. Still, the message was unmistakable: aiding terror, in any form, carries a heavy price.
Moments later, another supplier, Isah Ali, received a 10-year sentence—backdated to account for time already spent in detention.
No Mercy for “Support Networks”
The day’s proceedings painted a troubling picture: not just fighters, but an entire network sustaining terror.
A father of three, Sheu Buka, was handed a 20-year sentence – not for carrying arms, but for selling goats to insurgents. Despite pleas for leniency, Justice Nyako stood firm.
“Terrorism thrives on support,” she said. “And that support must be decisively punished.”
Similarly, Hamza Yahuza, a father of six, admitted to supplying drugs, cigarettes, and Indian hemp to insurgents operating in Borno’s Monguno area. He blamed poverty. The court was unmoved.
His sentence: seven years imprisonment, effective from the date of his arrest in 2023.
Beyond Punishment
In a notable turn, the court also ordered that convicted individuals undergo rehabilitation and de-radicalization programs after serving their sentences – an acknowledgment that the battle against terrorism is as much ideological as it is judicial.
The Federal Ministry of Interior has been tasked with determining where the convicts will serve their terms.
A Nation Watches
As proceedings adjourned, one thing was clear: this is only the beginning.
The trials are set to continue on April 8, with hundreds more cases waiting to be heard. For many Nigerians, the courtroom has become a stage where justice confronts terror – not with bullets, but with the rule of law.
And as the trucks rolled away at dusk, carrying the accused back into custody, Abuja was left with a quiet but powerful reminder:
The long road to justice has begun.
