Some suspected Boko Haram financiers have dragged the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, before a Federal High Court in Abuja with 53 different suits challenging what they termed their unlawful detention by the government of Nigeria.
In the cases instituted separately, the alleged Boko Haram financiers are claiming that the Federal Government is violating their individual fundamental human rights by detaining them beyond the stipulated constitutional period and without initiating criminal charges against them for whatever crimes.
They are seeking an order of court to terminate their alleged unlawful incarceration and monetary compensation from the government for curtailing their rights to freedom of movement in breach of their constitutionally guaranteed rights and losses in their businesses.
Plaintiffs who have been in the custody of security agents for over a month are Bureau de Change Operators alleged to have been using their services to advance the cause of Boko Haram terrorists.
The AGF is however claiming that the plaintiffs were hauled into detention on account of allegedly offering material and financial support to the dreaded Boko Haram terrorists unleashing mayhem on Nigerian citizens mainly in the North Eastern part of the country.
Malami, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), alleged that the plaintiffs have been providing finance and resources to the terrorists thereby sustaining them in the heinous crimes against the government of the federation.
The AGF is further claiming that the suspects are being detained on the valid order of court pending completion of investigation into their activities to determine the level of their individual complicity.
However at the Federal High Court, where their cases were listed for mention before a vacation judge, Justice Ahmed Ramat Mohammed, some of the suits were consolidated due to their similarities in claims against the Federal Government.
Justice Mohammed, whose period as a vacation judge terminated today and is set to proceed for a national assignment outside Nigeria, fixed September 1.2021 for further mention of the matters.
He ordered parties in the suits to file and exchange processes as required by law to facilitate quick determination of issues in dispute.
Malami had, during the last Eid el Kabir sallah, told the media inside the Presidential Villa that over 40 alleged financiers of Boko Haram suspects have been found and promised that the Federal Ministry of Justice would put them on trial after completion of their interrogation.
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