Falana demands arrest, prosecution of 10 Soldiers that killed 3 Policemen, writes NSA Ribadu, Justice Minister
Falana demands arrest, prosecution of 10 Soldiers that killed 3 Policemen, writes NSA Ribadu, Justice Minister
Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, has called on the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, to immediately order the arrest and prosecution of 10 soldiers accused of killing three police officers in Taraba State, alongside hundreds of individuals alleged to have financed terrorism but were never charged.
In a petition addressed to the Attorney-General and copied to the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, Falana alleged that the suspects were shielded from justice under the previous administration, despite the existence of what he described as compelling evidence.
The senior advocate accused the former Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, SAN, of abusing his prosecutorial powers by discontinuing criminal proceedings against the soldiers and failing to pursue cases against about 400 suspected terrorism financiers.
According to Falana, the alleged abuse of power undermined public confidence in the justice system and amounted to a serious breach of trust.
He recalled that in August 2019, 10 soldiers led by an army captain reportedly ambushed and killed three police officers in Jalingo, Taraba State, shortly after the officers arrested a suspected kidnap kingpin, Bala Hamisu, popularly known as Wadume.
Falana alleged that the killings were carried out to conceal the soldiers’ alleged involvement in kidnapping activities and the collection of large ransom payments from victims across Taraba State.
He said although the soldiers were arrested and arraigned before the Federal High Court in Abuja on terrorism-related charges, the case was later discontinued following the entry of a nolle prosequi by the then Attorney-General.
Describing the decision as unconstitutional, Falana argued that the Constitution requires the Attorney-General to act in the public interest and in the interest of justice, conditions he said were not met in the discontinuance of the case.
The human rights lawyer also raised concerns over what he described as a broader failure to prosecute terrorism financiers, despite international and local investigations.
He cited the conviction of six Nigerians in the United Arab Emirates in November 2020 for financing Boko Haram, noting that while foreign courts secured convictions, Nigerian authorities failed to successfully prosecute any terror financiers at home.
Falana further recalled that following the UAE convictions, Nigerian security agencies, including the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit and the Department of State Services, launched investigations that led to the arrest of hundreds of suspects.
He noted that in May 2021, the former Attorney-General publicly announced that about 400 alleged terrorism financiers had been arrested and would be prosecuted after the end of the judicial workers’ strike, a commitment Falana said was never fulfilled.
He said: “Regrettably, even after the strike was suspended, no charges were filed. The suspects were effectively shielded and repeated assurances that trials would commence ‘in a couple of weeks’ turned out to be empty promises.
“The case files of the 400 suspected financiers are reportedly still lying in the Office of the Attorney-General, while many of the suspects have regained their freedom. Nigeria cannot win the war against terrorism while protecting those who finance and execute it. The era of impunity must end.”
