Two suspected Boko Haram members were yesterday discharged by Justice Binta Nyako of the Abuja division of the Federal High Court for want of diligent prosecution.
The court, however, said that they would be monitored, as it warned them not to associate with any person of questionable character.
Ibrahim Ahmed and Sani Argungu, have been in detention since 2012 and 2013 after they were arraigned for alleged ties with the Boko Haram terror group.
Discharging the defendants, Nyako noted that Ahmed had been in detention since 2013, while Argungu had been detained since 2012, and the prosecution had yet to call its witnesses.
“The defendants have been in custody with no trial because the prosecution cannot bring its witnesses to court. So, I discharge the defendants and the suit is hereby struck out,” she said.
Nyako, however, said that whenever the prosecution was able to get its witnesses to attend court, the defendants could be re-arraigned.
The judge added that the defendants, although discharged, would be monitored. She warned them not to associate with any person of questionable character.
Ibrahim, who said in his statement that he was a security guard at government house, Sokoto, was alleged to have been responsible for giving passage to Boko Haram members.
