Nigerian courts have to date convicted about 653 suspects within the Federal Government’s ongoing mass trial of defendants indicted for belonging to Boko Haram, concealing details about its operations, or financing terrorism.
This was disclosed by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, on Friday throughout a press interview attended by Nairametrics.
Nairametrics earlier reported in April 2026 that the courtroom, presided over by Justice Binta Nyako, had sentenced Hamat Modu to 40 years’ imprisonment for offering logistical help to Boko Haram terrorists in Borno State.
Modu was on the time, arraigned by Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation.
What the AGF stated
According to the AGF, the event marks the eleventh section of the Federal Government’s prosecution of terrorism suspects arrested by safety operatives.
- “For this 11th phase, I would say that we have 1,060 suspects brought for trial. We are not through with it,” he stated.
He famous that, as of 12:45 p.m. on Friday, 880 trials had been carried out, leading to 653 convictions.
- “Out of these 880, 653 have been convicted, seven acquitted, 27 discharged,” he added, noting {that a} closing determine could be introduced on the finish of the trial.
- He described the mass trial as “the largest since we started.”
Fagbemi acknowledged the cooperation of the courts, legislation enforcement companies, and attorneys, stressing that the Federal Government would be sure that terrorism, terrorism financing, and associated actions weren’t given any area in Nigeria.
More particulars of the terrorism trial
Nairametrics monitored the mass trial earlier than Justices James Omotosho, Salim Ibrahim, and Binta Nyako.
Several defendants pleaded responsible to concealing details about their information of Boko Haram’s actions.
One of the defendants was convicted and sentenced to 45 years’ whereas one other bagged 12 years’ imprisonment earlier than Justice Nyako.
Those who pleaded not responsible had been remanded for additional trial.
Nigeria’s efforts to fight terrorism financing
In 2022, the Federal Government, via the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), introduced the identification of 96 suspected financiers of terrorism throughout the nation, significantly these linked to Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP).
The company additionally recognized 424 associates and supporters linked to those financiers.
The then Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, disclosed this throughout a press convention on the anti-corruption efforts of the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari.
He additional revealed that authorities had uncovered 123 corporations and 33 bureau de change operators linked to terrorism financing, alongside 26 suspected bandits and kidnappers and 7 co-conspirators.
Previous terrorism financing prosecutions
The newest improvement comes amid the federal government’s efforts to fight terrorist assaults in northern Nigeria and public criticism over their recurrence.
In a associated improvement, authorities within the United Arab Emirates named six Nigerians as financiers of terrorist organisations, together with Boko Haram, in September 2021.
The people had beforehand been tried and convicted within the UAE, with an appellate courtroom upholding their convictions for funding terrorist teams.
