After Daily Trust story, Senate seeks arrest, prosecution of Boko Haram sponsors

Following the exclusive story published by Daily Trust on how 6 Nigerians were convicted in United Arab Emirates for ‘funding Boko Haram activities in Nigeria’, the Senate Committee on Army has asked President Muhammadu Buhari to expedite action on the arrest and prosecution of other Boko Haram sponsors.

The chairman of the committee, Senator Ali Ndume (APC, Borno), made the call while briefing newsmen after a budget defense session with the Nigerian Army, which was held behind closed doors.

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Daily Trust had reported that the court judgment against the six Nigerians showed that between 2015 and 2016, the convicts were involved in different cash transfers allegedly in favour of Boko Haram to the tune of USD782, 000.00.

Responding to a question, Senator Ndume said those that are directly or indirectly involved in Boko Haram activities should be brought to book.

“We are still calling on the Nigerian government that those that are directly or indirectly involved in Boko Haram activities should be brought to book and used as an example. I think we have not been up and doing on that,” he said.

“No to rehabilitation of repentant Boko Haram”

The lawmakers also insisted that the federal government’s Deradicalisation, Rehabilitation and Reintegration programme for repentant Boko Haram fighters was out of order.

He said: “I am in disagreement with the Government on the issue of deradicalising and reintegrating (Boko Haram repentants). I still maintain that. You can’t be resettling people, pampering them while the war is on.

“The committee is on the same page and I believe many Nigerians are on the same page with this.

“In my village, mallams that are Muslims, not ordinary Muslims but Mallams, elders above 60, 75 of them were taken to an abattoir and slaughtered by Boko Haram.

“Can you imagine that the Nigerian army or the Nigerian government is saying that because these people have gone to repent, or they say they have their hands up, you bring them back and pamper them.”