The Federal Government has presented 1060 terrorism suspects before the Federal High Court in Abuja during the 11th phase of mass trial which began on Thursday.

According to the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), 653 of the suspects have been convicted as at midday on Friday.

Fagbemi, who gave an update while reviewing the progress of the trials on Friday, said as at noon on Friday, 880 cases had been tried, resulting in 653 convictions, seven acquittals and 27 discharges.

He said the exercise was ongoing and that the final figures would be announced upon its conclusion.

The AGF said the 11th phase is the largest since the FG commenced the mass trial of terror suspects.

He attributed the progress to the cooperation of the Judiciary, effective prosecution and inter-agency collaboration.

Fagbemi expressed appreciation to the judges involved in the exercise, particularly under the leadership of Justice Binta Nyako, who has been acting on behalf of the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tsoho.

He also commended prosecution and defence counsel, as well as relevant security and justice institutions, for their contributions to the exercise.

Among the agencies acknowledged were the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA), the Department of State Services (DSS), the military, the police, correctional centres and the Legal Aid Council.

According to him, the collaboration among the institutions has been critical to advancing the prosecution of terrorism, terrorism financing and related offences in the country.

The AGF also thanked journalists for informing the public about the Federal Government’s efforts to address terrorism and related security challenges in the country.

On the representation of defendants by lawyers from the Legal Aid Council, the AGF explained that the council was fulfilling its responsibility of providing legal assistance to eligible defendants and clarified, however, that private legal practitioners were also representing some of the suspects.

According to him, defence lawyers had been engaging with their clients before the court proceedings, including visiting detention facilities and preparing them for their defence. He noted that some of these preparatory activities could not be subjected to public scrutiny because of the sensitive security considerations surrounding the cases.

On the issue of deradicalisation for suspects recommended by the court, Fagbemi said the process remained an important component of the overall exercise, explaining that deradicalisation was intended to help eligible individuals understand and regret their actions, enabling them to reintegrate into society and resume their daily lives.

The AGF maintained that rehabilitation and reintegration were necessary to complement the judicial process and reduce the risk of individuals returning to extremist activities.

The ongoing trials form part of the Federal Government’s efforts to prosecute terrorism-related offences and strengthen accountability in the country’s response to insecurity. (The Nation)