By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa
The Federal High Court in Abuja commenced the mass trial of suspected terrorists on Tuesday, following the relocation of proceedings from the usual venue in Kainji, Niger State. The shift to the Abuja division was necessitated by the court’s Easter vacation period.
The vacation began on Tuesday, April 7, and is scheduled to run until April 13. Regular court sittings will resume across all divisions of the court on Tuesday, April 14.
On the first day of the trial, 20 suspected terrorists appeared before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Abuja. In total, 13 courtrooms at the Abuja division are currently occupied with terrorism-related cases.
Among the presiding judges are Justice Binta Nyako, Justice Emeka Nwite, Justice Musa Liman, and Justice Akpan Ekerete.
Before Justice Nyako’s court, the Federal Government’s legal team was led by Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation. The defence counsel for the 20 suspects was led by Aliyu Abubakar, Director General of the Legal Aid Council.
Security was heavily reinforced in and around the Federal High Court complex in Abuja. All roads leading to the court were blocked by armed security personnel, while a police helicopter was seen hovering over the Central Business District.
