FG okays set up of special courts on hate speeches, kidnapping, others

The judicial and executive arms of the Federal and State Governments will be working together to establish special courts that will prosecute purveyors of hate speeches, kidnapping and acts of terrorism a statement by the Presidency said Sunday.

The federal government will also be helping States to develop a template on how such special courts would be established and managed.

This was part of the resolutions at the National Economic Council’s retreat on National Security, last Thursday. The retreat featured presentations on the National Security Situation; Terrorism in the North East; Herders/Farmers Clashes; Ethno-Religious Crises; Regional Agitations for Secession and Hate Speech; Kidnapping; and Security Challenges in the Niger/Delta.

According to a statement signed by Acting President Yemi Osinbajo’s Spokesman, Laolu Akande the retreat discussed concerns about the delay in the entire criminal justice system and NEC members concluded that prompt action by law enforcement agencies is imperative.

“NEC members urged prompt action in the arrest and prosecution of perpetrators of terrorist acts, kidnapping and purveyors of hate speeches.

“To facilitate this, the designation of special courts was also advocated and the consensus was that judicial and executive arms of the Federal and State Governments will be working together to establish such courts” the statement said.

The Muhammadu Buhari led administration had earlier declared it will set up special courts for speedy prosecution of corruption cases although not much progress has been made with it.

NEC also recognized the crisis created by the herdsmen and farmers conflict which has however taken an ethnic and religious coloration, identifying the problem as essentially that of land use.

“It was agreed that both the FG and States need to properly define the problems and eschew the ethno-religious construction of what is otherwise an economic challenge.

NEC members stated that it would be useful bringing the different groups together-herdsmen and the farmers -to meet and discuss, and also work out some of the issues that concern them” the statement said.

At the retreat Council members also highlighted the need for a more effective coordination between the security and intelligence agencies building a security community that is well synergized, without which optimal performance of different security and intelligence agencies might be difficult.

“I think that is a very crucial point, practically everyone has mentioned this point and there has to be a more effective coordination between the security agencies and the intelligence community” the statement quoted the Acting President to have said at the retreat.

 

Elizabeth Archibong, Abuja