Former Senate Leader, Senator Ali Ndume (APC, Borno South), has urged the Federal government not to carry out secret trial of arrested Bureau De Change (BDC) operators indicted in the funding of Boko Haram insurgents.
Senator Ndume, who was reacting to recent arrest of some BDC operators accused of funding terrorism among other security issues, said the trial must be an open one for the public to be part of, irrespective of how highly placed the suspects may be.
Ndume said when he was accused of sponsoring Boko Haram insurgents, he was tried publicly for six years in an open court, adding that at the end of the day, he was vindicated.
The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, revealed last month that the Federal government had arrested some Bureau De Change operators who were facilitating the transfer of money to Boko Haram terrorists.
Garba, who noted that some Nigerians transferring money to the sect from the United Arab Emirate, (UAE), were working with the BDC operators, had said: “Bureaus de Change are facilitating money to terrorists. We have already worked with the UAE. Convictions have been achieved of Nigerians who are transferring money to Boko Haram terrorists and this also happens domestically.
“I tell you that by the time we finish this investigation, the shocking details will surprise many Nigerians.”
Ndume, who is Chairman, Senate Committee on Army, said: “The Presidency said recently that Nigerians would be shocked if it revealed the identities of those who are sponsoring the Boko Haram insurgents.
‘“Can you imagine that 400 Bureau De Change operators are the people funding the Boko Haram. When the BDC operators are arrested now, what will the government do with them. The Presidency is already saying their case is confidential. What is confidential about it?
“The Presidency should expose the identities of all the BDC operators so far arrested and carry out their trial in public. If any of them is innocent, he should be allowed to go while those found guilty must be made to face the music.
“When I was wrongly accused, I was tried publicly and I was vindicated. The trial lasted six years in an open court. If there is any criminal act linked to anybody. No matter how highly placed, let the evidence be placed before the public, there should be no secret trial.
“Nowadays, criminals are arrested and paraded without further action. Nobody knows what happens to the people who killed 11 soldiers in Benue State recently? What happened to those who beheaded policemen in Cross River State?
“If everyone is doing what he is supposed to do as defined by our constitution and laws, we would not have these problems. Citizens should expose suspicious movements.”
