Lawyer Seeks Court Order to Halt Military’s Reintegration of Repentant Insurgents

A human rights lawyer, Maxwell Opara, has approached the Federal High Court in Abuja seeking an order stopping the Nigerian military from further reintegrating repentant insurgents into society.

In a suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/837/2026, Opara is asking the court to restrain the Nigerian Army from continuing its Operation Safe Corridor programme, which facilitates the reintegration of former Boko Haram members who have surrendered.

The lawyer is also urging the court to compel the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) to prosecute more than 700 individuals described as repentant insurgents, in line with provisions of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022 and the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015.

He named the Nigerian Army, the AGF, and the President as 1st to 3rd respondents in the case.

Opara is seeking a declaration that reintegrating individuals suspected of terrorism-related offences without prosecution, trial, or conviction is unconstitutional and contrary to the rule of law.

He further argued that security agencies do not have the legal authority to grant what he described as “de facto immunity” or amnesty to persons allegedly involved in terrorism, kidnapping, and other violent crimes without judicial oversight or legislative backing.

According to him, the continued reintegration process undermines separation of powers and exposes citizens to security risks.

In his supporting affidavit, Opara claimed that over 700 former insurgents have already been released under the programme without criminal prosecution, adding that many are “reasonably suspected” of involvement in serious crimes.

He maintained that judicial power rests solely with the courts and warned that failure to prosecute such individuals could weaken public confidence in the justice system.

He also cited constitutional guarantees of the right to life, dignity, and personal liberty, arguing that exposing citizens to unprosecuted offenders violates those rights.

The lawyer urged the court to grant his reliefs in the interest of justice, national security, and the rule of law.

As of the time of filing this report, no judge has been assigned to hear the case.