The Federal Government has commenced prosecution of 500 suspected terrorists at the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja. The suspects facing trial were implicated in series of terror attacks in several communities across the country.

The suspects were alleged to have carried out terror attacks in Northern Nigeria where more than 2,000 Nigerians have been killed and properties destroyed.

Others were accused of aiding and abetting the heinous crime through direct and indirect sponsorship with either finance, arms and ammunition as well as foodstuffs supplies.

The Attorney General of the Federation, AGF, and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi SAN, supported by the Director of the Public Prosecution of the Federation, DPPF, Rotimi Oyedepo SAN, led the prosecution team.

The Director of the Legal Aid Council of Nigeria, Aliu Bagudu Abubakar, led the defense team with support from several lawyers.

Fagbemi, while confirming the decision of the federal government on the trial, revealed that a total of 227 suspects were put on trial On Monday before 10 Judges of the Federal High Court.

He thanked the Judges for sacrificing their Easter holiday to conduct the trial of the suspects.

To ensure that the trial was transparent and due process of law followed, he said that the federal government brought in representatives of the International bodies, Amnesty International, Human rights associations, Nigeria Bar Association to witness the proceedings.

The suspects were brought to court in loads of trucks with heavy security provided by armed soldiers, Department of State Service, DSS, operatives and the Police.

In one of the proceedings Justice Binta Fatima Nyako sentenced a major foodstuffs supplier to the Boko Haram terrorists in Borno State, Hamatu Modu, to 40 years imprisonment for his involvement in terrorism activities.

Modu, who confessed in the open court to supplying food items and information to terrorists, was put on trial by the federal government through the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice.

He was on Tuesday slammed with 4-count charges and instantly pleaded guilty to them.

The Director of the Public Prosecution of the Federation, DPPF, Rotimi Oyedepo SAN, led the prosecution in the court.

In his judgment, Justice Nyako sentenced him to 10 years, on each of the four counts, but due to plea of the defense counsel, the judge ordered that the 40 years imprisonment should run concurrently, giving the convict opportunity to spend only 10 years.

In another development, Isah Ali, another food supplier also in Borno, was jailed 10 years by Justice Nyako.

His jail term will, however, start three years ago when he was arrested and clamped into detention.

The convict confessed to committing the offence as charged.

Justice Nyako ordered that the convicts be made to undergo rehabilitation and radicalization at the end of their service of the jail terms.

The Federal Ministry of Interior was ordered to determine where the convicts will serve their jail terms.