The Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), has disclosed that the country has recorded 869 convictions on terrorism related cases since 2017.

Fagbemi said the courts also acquitted 891 terrorism suspects within the same period, adding that what the development shows is that the government complies with due process in its handling of the cases.

The AGF spoke in Abuja on Tuesday shortly after meeting with some United States officials, including the US Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights and Labour, Riley M. Barnes, and the US Ambassador to Nigeria, Richard Mills Jr.

The US officials did not speak with journalists after the meeting.

Fagbemi said, “The meeting is a follow-up on the one we had about a month or so ago in Washington.

“It is about the issue of terrorism that is going on in the country, and to afford us the opportunity to explain our own side of the story.

“We explained this to them when we visited Washington. But I am happy that they are also here to see things for themselves.

“And, what is important is to also appraise them that, even though we have challenges in Nigeria, it is not religious.

“We have security challenges, and the government is doing its utmost to ensure that these challenges are addressed.

“The one that concerns the Federal Ministry of Justice is about the prosecution of the people arrested in connection with extremism, and we were able to explain to them and tell them how far we have gone and what we are also doing.

“For instance, today, as we speak, terrorism trials are still going on. I have been there today, and I have taken one or two of the cases.

“I want to seize this opportunity to let you know that, as of today that is from 2017 to 2025, we have secured 860 convictions and 891 acquittals, that is, discharges.

“What this speaks to, particularly, the issue of discharges of the defendants, is that we don’t just arrest people and then, you know, clamp them into prison.

“We follow due process. They are profiled. Those who have nothing to do with it are left off the hook. Those whom we believe we have cases against, we take them to court. It is for the court to decide.

“So, whenever the court takes a decision, we comply or abide by the decision, and that is why we have both convictions and acquittals,” Fagbemi said.

On the position of the US officials during the meeting, the AGF said: “I am aware that he is also going to speak later, if not today, before he leaves Nigeria.

“We are not the only agency that they are visiting. They have visited a number of agencies. I am aware, for example, that they visited the Office of the National Security Adviser.

“They have visited the Office of the Chief of Defence Staff and a few other agencies. They have also met with some civil society organisations and religious bodies.

“But, I want to tell you that things are not as heinous as people are portraying. I can assure you of that. We have problems in Nigeria. It is not a problem of religion,” Fagbemi said. (The Nation)

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