The Federal Government has brought 1,060 defendants before the Federal High Court in Abuja for the 11th phase of its mass trial of terrorism suspects, with 653 convictions recorded as proceedings continued.

Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, disclosed the figures on Friday while reviewing progress in the ongoing exercise, which he described as the largest phase since the special trials began.

Fagbemi said that as of 12:15 p.m. on Friday, 880 cases had been heard, resulting in 653 convictions, seven acquittals and 27 discharges. He explained that the proceedings were still ongoing and that the final figures would be announced after the exercise concluded.

The latest round is the third phase of terrorism trials conducted in 2026 and the 11th since the Federal Government began the mass-trial process.

The attorney-general attributed the progress recorded to cooperation among the judges, prosecution and defence lawyers, security agencies and other institutions involved in the proceedings.

He commended the judges handling the cases, particularly those working under the leadership of Justice Binta Nyako, as well as the legal teams responsible for prosecuting and defending the defendants.

Fagbemi also acknowledged the contributions of the Office of the National Security Adviser, the Department of State Services, the military, the police, correctional facilities and the Legal Aid Council of Nigeria.

He said collaboration among the institutions had helped advance the prosecution of terrorism, terrorism financing and other related offences.

Addressing concerns about legal representation for the defendants, Fagbemi clarified that lawyers from the Legal Aid Council were not the only ones handling the cases, as private legal practitioners were also representing some defendants.

He said defence lawyers had been given opportunities to meet their clients before the hearings, including visiting detention facilities to consult with them and prepare their cases.

According to the minister, some preparatory activities could not be made public because of security considerations surrounding terrorism-related proceedings.

Fagbemi further emphasised the importance of deradicalisation for defendants recommended for the process, explaining that it was intended to support rehabilitation and reintegration into society.

He said the objective was to help eligible individuals understand the consequences of their actions and prepare them to return to their communities without becoming involved in extremist activities again.

The ongoing mass trials form part of the Federal Government’s efforts to prosecute terrorism-related offences and address pending cases through the judicial system.

The attorney-general said the final outcome of the latest phase would be made public once all proceedings had been concluded.