Nigeria’s Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, says 653 terrorism suspects are convicted in the latest phase of the Federal High Court’s mass trials. He says the 11th phase runs from October 19 to 24 and involves 1,060 suspects, with 880 cases heard as of midday Friday. Reported outcomes include 653 convictions, seven acquittals, and 27 discharges, with final figures to be confirmed after proceedings end.
Fagbemi describes the trials as part of Nigeria’s broader effort to prosecute terrorism-related offences and strengthen national security. He credits cooperation among judges, lawyers, security agencies, and other stakeholders, including the DSS, military, police, correctional centres, and the Legal Aid Council. He also says Legal Aid lawyers and private bar members engaged with suspects ahead of trial and that deradicalisation is part of the process for discharged suspects to support reintegration and reduce the risk of returning to extremist activity.
Vanguard and Nigerian Eye both foreground the same headline numbers (653 convictions out of 1,060 suspects in the 11th phase), while The Punch repeats the AGF announcement without adding new details in the provided text.
