The Nigerian government is about to begin the prosecution of 400 suspected Boko Haram financiers, the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami, said on Thursday.
Mr Malami said the government would soon “resuscitate and reinvigorate the existing special terrorism courts in the country” for that purpose.
This comes about a week after Mr Malami told reporters at the Presidential Villa in Abuja that the government was profiling some high-profile Nigerians strongly suspected to be financing terrorism for prosecution.
He had disclosed that investigations revealing the suspected terrorism financiers were triggered by a recent conviction of some Nigerians in the United Arab Emirate (UAE) for funding Boko Haram.
When asked about the number of the suspects already identified, he said it could not be given because investigations were still ongoing.
Mr Malami,however, gave a clue about the number in a statement released by his spokesperson, Umar Gwandu, to commemorate the Eid-el-Fitr celebration on Thursday.
The minister also said the government was taking more measures to counter insurgency and general insecurity in addition to the move to prosecute the 400 suspected Boko Haram financiers.
“He said in addition to the prosecution of 400 suspected Boko Haram financiers, the government has taken more measures to counter the twin trouble of insurgency and insecurity in the country.
“Malami said very soon, the Federal Government will, through the Federal Ministry of Justice’s Complex Case Group, resuscitate and reinvigorate the existing special terrorism prosecution courts in the country in order bring to book all those found guilty so as to serve as deterrence to others,” the statement read in part.
He urged Muslims to continue to be law-abiding, have sober reflection and exhibit the imbibed lessons learnt during the period of Ramadan fast as they celebrate Eid-el-fitr.
He saluted “the commitment of clerics in enlightening their followers on various issues during the months urging them to maintain the tempo even beyond the period of Ramadan.”