By Friday Temitope Eugenia
National News – The Federal Government has secured the conviction of about 150 terrorism suspects within the first 48 hours of the latest phase of its mass terrorism trials, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), has disclosed.
Speaking with journalists on Tuesday at the Federal High Court in Abuja, where the trials are being conducted before 10 judges simultaneously, Fagbemi said the exercise had recorded significant progress since it commenced on Monday.
According to him, approximately 160 cases were heard on the first day, resulting in about 150 convictions.
“Yesterday, we had about 160 trials. I think about 150 convictions,” the Attorney-General stated.
He added that nearly 300 cases were scheduled for hearing on Tuesday, with an additional 84 expected to be concluded before the end of the day.
“Whatever we can do, or wherever we stop today, we’ll continue tomorrow and also on Thursday. So it’s still ongoing,” he said.
Fagbemi urged Nigerians to remain patient as the trials continue, noting that the exercise demonstrates the Federal Government’s commitment to justice, accountability and the rule of law.
The Attorney-General had earlier described the current exercise as the fourth phase of mass terrorism trials undertaken since the inception of the present administration.
He said the government was sending a strong message that terrorism, in any form, would not be tolerated.
“The message is clear, direct and straightforward. It is that the present administration is not taking the issue of terrorism with levity. Since the inception of this administration, this is about the fourth phase that we are undertaking,” he said.
The prosecution team is being led by Fagbemi, while the Director-General of the Legal Aid Council, Aliyu Abubakar, heads the defence team.
Judges handling the cases include Justices Binta Nyako, Emeka Nwite, Musa Liman, James Omotosho, Obiora Egwuatu and Ekerete Akpan, among others, with proceedings taking place in multiple courtrooms at the Federal High Court, Abuja.
The ongoing phase of the terrorism trials is expected to run through Thursday as part of a week-long exercise.
The latest proceedings follow an earlier round held between April 7 and April 10, during which more than 500 alleged terrorists were tried before the Federal High Court in Abuja.
