Trials of Boko Haram suspects in Nigeria will
take place behind closed doors with no media present, a justice ministry
official with knowledge of the matter told AFP on Friday.
The move was made on security grounds following discussions between the
government and the Department of State Services intelligence agency.
“There will
be no access to the media,” said the official, who asked not to be identified.
“The
decision was based on the need for confidentiality because of security issues
that may come up during the trial.”
The justice
ministry announced last week that the trials of more than 1,600 suspects were
scheduled to begin from October 9.
It blamed
delays in prosecution on poor investigation techniques such as lack of forensic
evidence, “over-reliance on confession-based evidence” and logistical problems.
As of
September 11, only 13 cases linked to the eight-year insurgency had been
concluded, with nine convictions, according to the government.
Human rights
groups have criticised Nigeria’s military for the arbitrary arrest of civilians
and detention of suspects for lengthy periods of time without access to legal
counsel.
The
announcement that due process was finally to begin was given a cautious welcome
but a ban on media access will likely raise concerns about transparency.
The ministry
source said the British High Commission and US Embassy in Abuja, the UN Office
on Drugs and Crime, and the International Red Cross would be given “observer
status”.
“They will
be able to monitor how proceedings are carried out and obviously the suspects
will be given legal representation,” he added.
The trials
will take place in military detention facilities in Kainji, Kogi state, and New
Bussa, in Niger state, both in central Nigeria.
Hearings
will also be held in the Borno state capital, Maiduguri, where Boko Haram was
founded in 2002 and which has been at the epicentre of the long-running
violence.
News
Source: - The Guardian | September 29, 2017.
Photo Source: - Punch | September 24, 2017.
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