Fagbemi disclosed the figures on Friday, October 23, while giving an update on the 11th phase of the special trials, which began on October 19 and was scheduled to run until October 24.

He said 1,060 defendants had been brought before the court for the latest phase, describing it as the largest since the mass trial exercise began.

As of about 12:15 p.m. on Friday, 880 cases had been handled, resulting in 653 convictions, seven acquittals and 27 discharges. Fagbemi said the final figures would be released after the conclusion of the proceedings.

He noted that the current phase was the third conducted in 2026, bringing the total number of phases since the exercise began to 11.

The Attorney-General attributed the progress to cooperation among the judges, prosecution and defence lawyers, security agencies and other institutions involved in the proceedings.

He particularly commended the judges handling the cases under the leadership of Justice Binta Nyako, who has been playing a leading role in the court’s mass trial sessions.

Fagbemi also acknowledged the contributions of the Office of the National Security Adviser, the Department of State Services, the military, the police, correctional facilities and the Legal Aid Council of Nigeria.

According to him, coordination among the institutions has helped facilitate the prosecution of terrorism, terrorism financing and related offences.

On the legal representation of defendants, Fagbemi explained that the Legal Aid Council was not the only body providing lawyers for the proceedings. Private legal practitioners have also been involved in defending some of the accused.

He said defence lawyers had been given opportunities to meet their clients before trial, including visiting detention facilities and preparing them for court proceedings.

The Attorney-General stressed that access to legal representation remained an important part of the process, even as the government pursued cases involving serious security-related offences.

Fagbemi also highlighted the importance of rehabilitation and deradicalisation for eligible individuals who may be recommended for such programmes following the court process.

He said the objective was to support their reintegration into society and reduce the risk of returning to extremist activities. The precise arrangements, he indicated, would depend on the recommendations made in individual cases.

The mass trials form part of the Federal Government’s efforts to prosecute people accused of terrorism-related offences and strengthen accountability within the justice system.

However, the figures announced on Friday were not final, as the proceedings were still ongoing at the time of the update.

The conclusion of the exercise is expected to provide a clearer picture of the total number of convictions, acquittals and discharges recorded during the latest phase.

Reporting by TalkNaijaMedia