EXCLUSIVE: Ona Ekhomu Hails Conviction of Boko Haram Terrorists

DR ONA EKHOMU

President of the Association of Industrial Security and Safety Operators of Nigeria (AISSON), Dr. Ona Ekhomu has applauded the conviction and sentencing of four members of the Boko Haram terrorist group for carrying  out multiple bombings and killings in parts of the Federal Capital Territory and Suleja - Niger State between March and July 2011.

Praising the courage and wisdom of the Abuja Federal High Court Judge, Justice Bilikisu Aliyu who sentenced the terrorists to life behind bars,  Ekhomu said terror trial judgments should show the capacity of the judiciary to contribute in combating terrorism.

He called for capital punishment for terrorist crimes that result in fatalities saying terrorists must get their” just desserts”.  Said he: “ the life which they took from innocent victims must be avenged”.  Ekhomu called for severe, certain and swift justice for terror suspects, saying justice delayed was justice denied.  “The human rights of victims of terror attacks must somehow be restored to them by promptly disposing of terror cases,” he added.

Describing terrorism as “mala in se” or the personification of evil, Ekhomu said manifestations of terror attacks were not hidden and the fruits of the crime were usually in full view.  He therefore advised Nigerian jurists to rebuff attempts by some unscrupulous lawyers to frustrate or delay trials by raising endless frivolous motions.  He said these motions and legalistic antics should not only be discouraged but also be sanctioned in order to obtain substantial justice for victims of terror attacks.

Ekhomu, who is the first chartered security professional in West Africa said that the quality of our judicial processes also define the quality of our society. If judges cuddle terrorism through delayed trials and lenient sentences then Nigeria may be said to be soft on terrorism.

He advised judges to set target completion dates of four weeks for terrorism cases once they come to trial, and advised on the application of strict sentencing guidelines in the punishment phase of terrorism trials.  He urged prosecutors to try terrorist suspects under the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Act rather than the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2011 which he described as a “bad piece of legislation"