The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), has urged the judiciary to speed up the handling of terrorism cases and other serious crimes. He made this call in Abuja during the ceremony marking the start of the Court of Appeal’s 2025/2026 Legal Year, where the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, was also present.
Fagbemi noted that Nigeria is facing significant security challenges, including terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and other violent offences. He said that the courts have a crucial role to play by delivering firm and timely judgments that hold offenders accountable. According to him, prompt trials help strengthen the rule of law and show that the government is serious about tackling insecurity. He added that the Federal Government prefers timely prosecutions to prolonged detentions and wants suspects involved in attacks, kidnapping networks, extremist recruitment, and terror financing to be tried as quickly as possible.
He also mentioned that the government is aware of the heavy workload faced by judges and is working to appoint more Federal High Court judges to improve the justice system’s capacity to handle terrorism-related matters and other cases efficiently.
During the event, Nyesom Wike assured judges of the FCT High Court that new budgetary provisions have been made to improve their living conditions. He explained that comfortable and secure accommodation would allow judges to focus better on their duties. Wike revealed that the FCT Administration had already handed over the Certificate of Occupancy for the Supreme Court’s land and had begun fencing the area to prevent encroachment and enhance security. He said this intervention would help strengthen confidence within the judiciary, which had been lacking in previous administrations.
He noted that several judicial infrastructure projects were already underway, including residences for Heads of Courts, a Magistrate Court complex in Jabi, staff quarters at the Nigerian Law School, and plans for new Court of Appeal and National Industrial Court facilities. Wike reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to supporting justice sector reforms and said he hoped the new legal year would bring improved efficiency and better delivery of justice in the Court of Appeal.
