The Federal Government has commenced the prosecution of 500 suspected terrorists in Phase 9 of a mass trial currently underway at the Federal High Court in Abuja. Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), disclosed this on Tuesday, revealing that 227 suspects appeared before 10 judges on the first day. The trial, relocated from Kainji, Niger State, for logistical reasons, is expected to conclude by Friday or Saturday. Fagbemi praised the judges for suspending their Easter break to preside over the cases, describing their presence as patriotic.
The AGF explained that Abuja was chosen due to the availability of courtrooms and facilities required to accommodate 10 judges simultaneously. He emphasized that the trial is transparent, with representatives from Amnesty International, the UNODC, the Nigerian Bar Association, and media in attendance. Fagbemi affirmed that no one would be convicted without meeting legal thresholds. The Director General of the Legal Aid Council, leading the defence team, confirmed that most suspects admitted involvement, with many charged for association with Boko Haram or ISWAP. A few suspects were discharged and acquitted, including some detained for up to five years.
Lateef Fagbemi's decision to shift the trial from Kainji to Abuja exposes the logistical fragility of Nigeria's justice system in handling large-scale terrorism cases outside the capital. The fact that judges had to suspend their Easter break to maintain momentum suggests that the judiciary remains reactive rather than structurally equipped. For Nigerians, this means justice for grave security threats depends on exceptional effort, not routine capacity.
