The Chairman, Senate Committee on Army, Senator Ali Ndume, says the secret trial of Bureau De Change (BDC) operators arrested for allegedly funding Boko Haram does not inspire confidence.
Recall that presidential spokesman, Garba Shehu revealed last month that some BDC operators had been arrested for transferring money to Boko Haram.
“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. And I tell you that by the time we finish this investigation, the shocking details will surprise many Nigerians,” Shehu had said.
Speaking with journalists in Abuja on Sunday, the senator advised the Federal Government to reveal the identities of the BDC operators and try them in public.
Ndume (APC – Borno South) recalled when he was accused of being a Boko Haram sponsor, tried in public and vindicated.
He said that the BDC operators should also go through the same process.
According to him, any of the suspects found not guilty should be released while those found guilty should suffer the consequences.
“The Presidency said recently that Nigerians would be shocked if it revealed the identities of those who are sponsoring the Boko Haram insurgents.
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“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’s supposed to do as defined by our constitution and laws, we would not have these problems. Citizens should expose suspicious movements,” Ndume said.