Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, has emphasized that the judiciary must support national efforts to combat insecurity and has called on the court to accelerate hearings in cases involving terrorism, human trafficking, kidnapping, and other serious crimes.
On Monday in Abuja, the AGF filed the appeal during the opening ceremony for the Court of Appeal’s 2025–2026 legal year.
Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, also attended the ceremony and pledged to provide judges with better housing so they could perform their jobs without being distracted by subpar living conditions.
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Fagbemi said, “At this solemn juncture in our national life, it is also impossible to ignore the grave challenge of insecurity that confronts our country. From insurgency and terrorism to banditry, kidnapping and violent crimes, these threats imperil not only the safety of our citizens but also the very fabric of our constitutional democracy.
“The judiciary, as the guardian of justice and the custodian of the rule of law, must lend its weight to national efforts to combat insecurity through firm, consistent and courageous adjudication, the courts can ensure that those who threaten peace and stability are held accountable, that impunity is dismantled, and that the sanctity of human life and property is protected.”
He emphasized that the judiciary is more effective when insecurity and terrorism cases are swiftly heard.
“The judicial system’s effectiveness strengthens when terrorism cases receive swift hearings and resolutions, which demonstrates that terrorism faces immediate and decisive legal action.
“The Federal Government remains deeply committed to combating terrorism through a combination of kinetic and non-kinetic strategies. It recognises that the swift administration of justice is a vital complement to military and intelligence operations.
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“Accordingly, rather than resorting to indiscriminate detention or relying solely on battlefield engagements, the government is focused on the timely prosecution of suspects implicated in mass-casualty attacks, kidnap-for-ransom networks, extremist recruitment, and terror-financing activities,” Fagbemi said.
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