The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, has said 653 suspects have been convicted in the ongoing mass trial of terrorism suspects at the Federal High Court.
Fagbemi disclosed this on Friday, saying 1,060 suspects were brought before the court during the 11th phase of the mass trials, scheduled between October 19 and 24, which he described as the largest since the exercise began.
According to him, 880 cases had been handled as of 12:15 p.m. on Friday, resulting in 653 convictions, seven acquittals, and 27 discharges, adding that the final figures would be released after the conclusion of the exercise.
“This is the third phase this year alone. But generally, this is the 11th phase. That is if you consider everything since we started.
“For this 11th phase… we have 1,060 suspects brought for trial. We are not through with it. As at now, as at quarter after 12 today, we have had about 880 trials. Of this 880, 653 have been convicted, seven acquitted, 27 discharged.”
“But by tomorrow when we finish, I will be able to give, or we would be able to give the final figure. We would also observe that this appears to be the largest since we started,” he said.
The AGF attributed the progress to the cooperation of the judges, prosecution and defence lawyers, as well as security and other relevant agencies involved in the exercise.
He particularly commended the judges sitting under the leadership of Justice Binta Nyako, who he said had been holding forth for the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court.
Fagbemi 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, among other stakeholders.
He said the collaboration among the agencies had been instrumental to the prosecution of terrorism-related offences.
On the provision of legal representation for the defendants, Fagbemi said the Legal Aid Council was not the only body providing defence lawyers, as members of the private bar had also been participating in the proceedings.
He explained that defence lawyers had engaged with the suspects before the trials, including visiting detention facilities and preparing them for their cases.
Fagbemi also stressed the importance of deradicalisation in the rehabilitation of suspects who might eventually be discharged.
He said the process was necessary to help them reintegrate into society and avoid returning to activities that led to their arrest.
“Deradicalisation is an aspect of the exercise. There’s no way you can be discharged without, you know, going through that recommendation. You must be deradicalised.”
“You know, what took you there in the first instance, there must be a system to let you, you know, regret the action you have taken, so that when you get back to society, you will be able to fit in the society and continue your daily life,” he said.