Court Transfers Boko Haram Suspects’ Case To High Court

An Abuja Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday terminated the First Information Report on three persons accused of being members of the Boko Haram sect and transferred their trial to the Federal High Court.

The accused persons are Mohammed Sani, Mohammed Auwal and Jemilu Shiabu, arraigned on January 20 on the charges of conspiracy (joint act) and belonging to unlawful society.

The termination of the report and the transfer of the case followed a motion by the Prosecutor, Mr. Chijoke Okezie on Tuesday, praying the court to transfer it to a high court.

Okezie in a motion urged the court to terminate the report and produce the accused persons for further investigation.

He argued in the motion supported by an eight-paragraph affidavit that the offence for which the suspects were brought before the court bordered on national security.

“There were new issues that bordered on national security which called for further investigation which might lead the charging of the accused persons to Federal High Court,” he said.

According to him, the accused persons have been summoned to appear before a panel set up to investigate the escape of one Kabiru Sokoto, an alleged Boko Haram member.

Senior Magistrate Aliyu Shafa granted the prayers and directed that the suspects should be released to the police for further investigation.