Wale Igbintade
The human rights lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN), has given the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, seven days to provide information on the prosecution of about 400 sponsors of terrorism believed to have been arrested by the federal government.
Falana made the request in a Freedom of Information (FIO) request dated August 3, 2021, entitled “Request for Information on Prosecution of Arrested 400 Sponsors of Terrorism in Nigeria.’’
He reminded the AGF that on May 4, 2021, it was widely reported in the print and electronic media that the federal government had concluded arrangements to prosecute about 400 alleged sponsors and financiers of terrorism in Nigeria.
In the said publication, the AGF assured the nation that the suspects would be arraigned after the industrial action recently embarked upon by the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN).
The letter reads: “In view of the terrorist attacks being unleashed on law-abiding citizens by groups of insurgents in several parts of the country, we strongly commend the move by the federal government to prosecute the suspects who were reported to have been arrested in a nationwide operation a few months ago.
“We, however, request that our law firm be furnished with information with respect to when criminal charges were filed against the suspects since the strike by JUSUN has since been called off.
‘’Kindly ensure that we are furnished with the requested information within seven days of the receipt of this letter in accordance with the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act, 2011.’’
