Human rights activist and lawyer Maxwell Opara has urged the Federal Government to prioritise judicial processes when handling repentant insurgents, drawing a comparison with the approach adopted by Charles Soludo in dealing with controversial figures in Anambra State.
Opara made the remarks during an interview on SYMFONI TV, where he criticised the rehabilitation of former members of Boko Haram under Operation Safe Corridor without what he described as adequate legal proceedings.
Referencing Soludo’s handling of the arrest of celebrity native doctor Akwa Okuko, Opara said the governor had demonstrated a more lawful approach by insisting that the courts should ultimately determine the fate of suspects. Quoting the governor’s stance, he said, “When they met Soludo about Akwa Okuko and other native doctors, Soludo said even if he’s going to do anything, let court decide.”
Opara argued that the same principle should apply to insurgents seeking reintegration into society. He maintained that while deradicalisation programmes may be necessary, they should not replace the judicial process. According to him, allowing courts to first determine culpability would ensure accountability and reinforce the rule of law.
The lawyer stressed that bypassing prosecution risks undermining justice, particularly for victims of insurgency who may feel sidelined if perpetrators are reintegrated without facing trial. He added that adopting a court-led approach, as seen in Anambra, could help restore public confidence in the system.
Watch the video from stamp time 4:50 to 4:58 HERE
