Abuja, Nigeria – Nigeria has secured convictions for 44 out of 54 individuals recently arraigned in Phase 7 of its Kainji Detention Facility Terrorism Trial, marking a continued effort to bolster the country’s criminal justice system against terrorism. The remaining 10 cases were adjourned during proceedings held across four courts, presided over by four Federal High Court justices.
The verdicts delivered from these trials, which commenced on Wednesday, July 9, 2025, resulted in prison sentences ranging from 10 to 30 years, all to be served with hard labour. This outcome underscores what officials describe as the Nigerian justice system’s resolve to uphold accountability and deter future transgressions.
During the opening ceremony, the National Coordinator of the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC), Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), Major General Adamu Garba LAKA, delivered remarks on behalf of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu. The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), was represented by the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation, Mohammed Babadoko Abubakar. Both officials reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to justice and its determination to confront terrorism through lawful and transparent means.
These latest convictions build on previous successes. During the Phase 6 trials, 237 cases were heard, resulting in 200 convictions. Those convicted received sentences ranging from the death penalty and life imprisonment to prison terms of 20 to 70 years, for offences including attacks on women and children, destruction of religious sites, killing of civilians, and abduction during an assault on the Gina Kara Kai community in Borno State.
With the current verdicts, Nigeria has now secured a total of 785 cases involving terrorism financing and other terrorism-related offences. This reflects the country’s intensified efforts to combat violent extremism, dismantle funding networks, and strengthen national security through judicial enforcement.
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