…as 8 discharged, 2 acquitted
By Vivian Okejeme
The Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, Friday, confirmed that a total number of 386 out of the 508 terrorists were convicted by the federal high court Abuja in four days.
Breaking it down, out of a total number of 386 convicts, 8 were discharged, 2 acquitted from the charges, while 112 defendants trials adjourned to next phase of the trial between June 15 to 18.
The convicted terrorists were sentenced to various jail terms ranging from five years to life imprisonment based on the gravity of the charges against them.
Briefing journalists at the conclusion of the mass trial, Fagbemi said “eight of the defendants were discharged while two were acquitted from the charges against them.
The Minister of Justice further explained that, “a batch of 112 suspects whose cases could not be attended to would be arraigned along with others in the next phase of the mass trial between June 15 and 18, 2026.”
He said that the mass trial and the imprisonment of the 386 terrorists will serve as a signal to criminals that Nigeria has no space for heinous crimes like terrorism.
The Justice Minister praised the ten judges of the Federal High Court for sacrificing their Easter holiday to sit as special courts and in response to a clarion call of the federal government to them.
Fagbemi also said that international organizations, especially Amnesty International, Nigerian Bar Association, National Human Rights Commission and other civil Societies witnessed the proceedings to ensure that due process of law and transparency took the lead in the trial of the terrorism.
He equally thanked the media for the coverage of the proceedings.
