The Federal Government has secured the conviction of 653 defendants during the ongoing 11th phase of terrorism trials, with 880 cases heard as of midday on Friday, according to the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi.
Fagbemi disclosed the figures while providing an update on the proceedings, describing the exercise as the largest since the commencement of the mass trials.
He said a total of 1,060 suspects had been brought before the courts during the current phase. As of about 12:15 p.m. on Friday, seven defendants had been acquitted, while 27 others had been discharged.
The AGF, however, clarified that the figures remained provisional because the proceedings were still ongoing. He said the Federal Government would release the final statistics after the conclusion of the exercise.
The 11th phase forms part of the government’s efforts to prosecute terrorism suspects, tackle terrorism financing and address related security offences through the judicial system.
Fagbemi attributed the progress recorded to the cooperation of judges, prosecution and defence lawyers, security agencies and other government institutions involved in the trials.
He particularly commended the judges presiding over the cases under the leadership of Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court, who has been acting on matters relating to the ongoing trials in place of the court’s Chief Judge.
According to the minister, the arrangement allowing multiple judges to sit simultaneously has helped accelerate proceedings, particularly during the ninth, 10th and 11th phases of the mass trials.
He also acknowledged the contributions of the Office of the National Security Adviser, the Department of State Services, the military, the police, correctional centres and the Legal Aid Council of Nigeria.
Fagbemi said cooperation among these institutions had been essential to the prosecution of the defendants and the progress achieved during the exercise. He also commended journalists for informing the public about the government’s efforts to prosecute terrorism, terrorism financing and related offences.
Addressing concerns about legal representation for the defendants, the AGF disclosed that many of them were represented by lawyers from the Legal Aid Council, while private legal practitioners also defended some of the suspects.
He explained that defence lawyers had been given opportunities to consult their clients before the proceedings. According to him, lawyers visited detention facilities, interacted with defendants and prepared their cases ahead of the court sessions.
Fagbemi noted that these preparatory activities were part of the judicial process, although not all could be made public because of security considerations surrounding the trials.
The minister also highlighted the importance of deradicalisation for defendants recommended by the courts for the programme.
He explained that deradicalisation was intended to help eligible individuals reconsider the actions that brought them into contact with the law and prepare them for reintegration into society.
According to him, the programme seeks to ensure that individuals who eventually return to their communities can rebuild their lives without returning to extremist activities.
The issue has attracted attention amid concerns that some defendants have spent periods in detention equivalent to, or longer than, the sentences imposed on them, raising questions about the implementation of court recommendations for deradicalisation.
Fagbemi maintained that deradicalisation remained an important component of the government’s response to terrorism, stressing the need to prepare eligible individuals for their eventual return to society.
The ongoing trials form part of the Federal Government’s broader efforts to prosecute terrorism-related offences and strengthen the administration of justice in cases involving national security.
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