KEY POINTS
- The Federal Government vowed to root out terrorism through ongoing mass trials in Abuja.
- AGF Lateef Fagbemi says more than 600 suspects face prosecution in this phase.
- Ten judges are devoted solely to the terrorism cases, which run until Thursday.
The Federal Government on Monday said it is determined to stamp out terrorism and related activities across the country. The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, made the pledge after he led a team of lawyers to the Federal High Court in Abuja for the ongoing mass trial of suspected terrorists.
A firm message on terrorism
Fagbemi insisted that the administration treats the threat with utmost seriousness. “We will fight with every inch of our blood to ensure that we make Nigeria a safe haven for everybody,” he said. Moreover, he framed the trials as proof of intent. “The message is clear, direct and straightforward. It is that the present administration is not taking the issue of terrorism with levity,” he added.
According to the AGF, the government has now reached the fourth phase of such prosecutions since the administration took office. Therefore, he said, the proceedings send a signal that the country will tolerate terrorism in no form or shape.
More than 600 suspects in the dock
On the numbers, Fagbemi said the current phase covers a large caseload. “For this phase, the ones we have today, we have about 490. Tomorrow we’ll have 84,” he said. Furthermore, he noted that the figure excludes 102 suspects carried over from the previous phase, which pushes the total beyond 600.
In addition, the minister said the judiciary has committed significant resources to clear the docket. He explained that about 10 judges now handle the terrorism cases exclusively. “Total devotion to trial of terrorism cases,” he said, adding that the judges are speeding up the process without compromising the necessary safeguards.
Notably, Fagbemi said the proceedings have already produced convictions, and he promised that officials would compile a full record at the end of the trial. Consequently, he expressed optimism about the current phase, which began on Monday and runs until Thursday. “By the end of Thursday, we are optimistic that it would have gone very, very fine,” he concluded.
Ultimately, the latest hearings build on an earlier round between April 7 and April 10, when the same court tried at least 500 suspected terrorists. By stacking the phases, the government signaled a sustained push to prosecute its way through a growing security caseload.
