Human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, 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.
In a petition addressed to the Attorney-General and copied to the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, Falana alleged that the soldiers, alongside hundreds of suspected terrorism financiers, were shielded from justice under the previous administration despite what he described as strong and compelling evidence.
Falana accused the former Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, SAN, of abusing his powers by discontinuing criminal proceedings against the soldiers and failing to pursue the prosecution of about 400 individuals allegedly linked to terrorism financing. According to him, these actions seriously undermined public trust in the justice system.
Recalling the incident, Falana said the soldiers, led by an army captain, allegedly ambushed and killed three police officers in Jalingo, Taraba State, in August 2019. The officers were reportedly killed shortly after arresting a suspected kidnap kingpin, Bala Hamisu, also known as Wadume.
He alleged that the killings were meant to conceal the soldiers’ alleged involvement in kidnapping activities and ransom collection across the state. Although the soldiers were arrested and arraigned on terrorism-related charges, Falana said the case was later terminated after the former Attorney-General entered a nolle prosequi.
Describing that 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 clearly not met.
Beyond the soldiers’ case, Falana raised alarm over the failure to prosecute terrorism financiers in Nigeria. He referenced the conviction of six Nigerians in the United Arab Emirates in 2020 for financing Boko Haram, noting that while foreign courts secured convictions, Nigerian authorities failed to do the same.
He recalled that Nigerian security agencies had arrested hundreds of suspects following investigations in 2021, after the former Attorney-General announced that about 400 alleged terrorism financiers would be prosecuted. According to Falana, that promise was never fulfilled.
“Even after the judicial workers’ strike was suspended, no charges were filed,” Falana said. “Many of the suspects regained their freedom, while their case files reportedly remain in the Attorney-General’s office. Nigeria cannot win the war against terrorism while protecting those who finance and carry it out. The era of impunity must end.”
Falana urged the current administration to take decisive action, stressing that justice delayed or denied only strengthens insecurity and weakens public confidence in the rule of law.
