Abuja mass trial: FG vows to root out terrorism from Nigeria

The federal government on Monday said it is determined to stamp out terrorism and its related activities from the country.

Mr Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, made this known on Monday while speaking with newsmen shortly after he led a team of lawyers to the Federal High Court in Abuja in the ongoing mass trial of suspected terrorists.

”We will fight with every inch of our blood to ensure that we make Nigeria a safe haven for everybody.

“The message is clear, direct and straightforward. It is that the present administration is not taking the issue of terrorism with levity.

“And that is why you see the ongoing trials.

“Since the inception of this administration, this is about the fourth phase that we are undertaking.

“So the message is that everybody will know that terrorism in whatever form or shape will not be tolerated and will not be condoned,” he said.

On the total number of suspects on trial in the current phase, the AGF said more than 600 terror suspects would be prosecuted.

“Well, for this phase, the ones we have today, we have about 490. Tomorrow we’ll have 84.

“But this 84 does not include the 102 that was brought forward from the last phase.

“So in total, you have almost about 600 plus to contend with for this phase.

“We have been assured by the honourable judges that they will do their utmost part to ensure that they clear this number for this phase,” he said.

He assured that the trial would be given an accepted hearing.

He said, “We have about 10 judges devoted to this case alone, and they are not doing any other cases apart from the terrorism cases.

“I mean, total devotion to trial of terrorism cases.

‘I am optimistic, and I’ve gotten assurances from them (judges) that they will do no other than this one, and they are speeding up the process without compromising the necessary safeguards and oversight that they are meant to do.’

Fagbemi, who said there had been convictions so far from the proceedings he had appeared in, said a record would be compiled at the end of the trial.

He said the trial, which began today, would last until Thursday.

“By the end of Thursday, we are optimistic that it would have gone very, very fine,” he concluded.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that at least 500 suspected terrorists were also tried between April 7 and April 10 at the Federal High Court in Abuja as part of an intensified effort to tackle insecurity. (NAN)

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