Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, announced that the federal government successfully prosecuted and convicted 226 terrorism suspects in December 2024.
Fagbemi attributed this success to intentional efforts aimed at enhancing the criminal justice system in Nigeria.
During a special engagement session on Thursday, he provided updates to Nigerians and stakeholders on the achievements of the Federal Ministry of Justice and its agencies in advancing the criminal justice administration from October 2024 to the present.
He highlighted significant improvements in the prosecution of crimes under the Ministry’s jurisdiction. “Between December 9 and 13, 2024, we effectively conducted 237 terrorism cases, resulting in the successful prosecution and conviction of 226 suspects,” Fagbemi stated.
He emphasized that these accomplishments stemmed from existing policies and actions focused on bolstering the capabilities of prosecutors, fostering collaboration among prosecuting agencies, and developing suitable policy frameworks in partnership with the National Security Adviser and other law enforcement bodies.
The Minister also noted other achievements, including the formation of a Joint Case Team (JCT) dedicated to addressing cybercrime.
Additionally, he mentioned that the federal government is currently reviewing the Cyber Crime Legal Framework to strengthen national regulations in line with emerging trends and global best practices.
On another front, the Minister reported progress in enhancing protections for victims of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) through awareness campaigns and improved access to justice. “During this reporting period, we secured six convictions for SGBV offences, including the case of Peter Nwachukwu, the husband of the late gospel singer Osinachi Nwachukwu,” he stated.
Fagbemi further highlighted the Ministry’s commitment to developing a child-sensitive justice system that addresses the needs of children involved with the law, whether as victims, witnesses, or offenders. Efforts continue towards enacting laws against child recruitment and implementing safeguards for child offenders.
In the realm of anti-corruption and asset recovery, the Minister revealed that Nigeria signed an Asset Sharing Agreement with the United States on January 10, 2025, leading to the repatriation of assets worth $52,882,018.95. Of this amount, $50 million will fund the Distributed Access through Renewable Energy Scale-Up (DARES) Project, designed to provide electricity access to 17.5 million Nigerians, while the remaining $2.88 million will enhance counter-terrorism capacity building for practitioners in the criminal justice sector.
Fagbemi mentioned ongoing negotiations for additional recoveries in foreign jurisdictions, including the U.S., Bailiwick of Jersey, and France, expressing hope for a swift conclusion to repatriate more funds to Nigeria.
Regarding legal aid, he disclosed that the government is enhancing access to justice through the Legal Aid Council of Nigeria, which provides free legal services to low-income citizens in both criminal and civil matters. The Council managed 2,790 criminal cases and 1,021 civil matters, with 482 resolved through Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanisms.
The Council also conducted 760 visits to correctional facilities nationwide to review inmate cases and provided assistance to 637 suspects during police interviews and bail processes under its Police Duty Solicitor Scheme (PDSS).
Moreover, the Council engaged in media outreach and community sensitization campaigns on citizens’ rights and access to the criminal justice system, collaborating with traditional leaders, religious figures, and community organizations. A total of 370 sensitization campaigns were conducted during this reporting period.
