Femi Falana Demands Arrest of Soldiers, 400 Terror Financiers Shielded Under Previous Administration

Femi Falana Demands Arrest of Soldiers, 400 Terror Financiers Shielded Under Previous Administration

LAGOS — Prominent human rights lawyer, Mr Femi Falana, SAN, has petitioned the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, demanding the immediate arrest and prosecution of 10 soldiers accused of killing three police officers in Taraba State, as well as 400 alleged terrorism financiers whose cases were reportedly abandoned under the previous administration.

In his petition, Falana accused former AGF Abubakar Malami, SAN, of deliberately shielding the suspects from justice despite “overwhelming evidence.” Copies of the petition were also sent to the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu.

“The withdrawal of terrorism charges against these soldiers and the failure to prosecute hundreds of terror financiers amount to a grave abuse of prosecutorial powers and a betrayal of public trust,” Falana said.

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Falana recalled that in August 2019, 10 soldiers led by an Army Captain ambushed and killed three police officers in Jalingo, Taraba State, after they had arrested notorious kidnapper Bala Hamisu, also known as Wadume. Although the soldiers were initially charged with terrorism offences at the Federal High Court, Abuja, the case was abruptly terminated after Malami entered a nolle prosequi, which Falana described as unconstitutional.

He noted that while the United Arab Emirates convicted six Nigerians for financing Boko Haram—two sentenced to life imprisonment and four jailed for 10 years—Nigerian authorities failed to bring a single financier to justice.

Falana accused Malami of failing to prosecute the 400 suspected terrorism financiers arrested after investigations by the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) and Department of State Services (DSS), despite assurances that trials would commence after a judicial workers’ strike.

“The case files of these suspected financiers are reportedly still 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,” Falana added.

Femi Falana Demands Arrest of Soldiers, 400 Terror Financiers Shielded Under Previous Administration