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Nigeria has secured 44 new convictions in the ongoing Kainji Detention Facility Terrorism Trial, marking another step in the country’s ongoing efforts to strengthen its criminal justice system and combat terrorism.
According to a statement issued on Saturday in Abuja by Mr. Michael Abu, Head of Strategic Communication at the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC) under the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), the convictions were obtained during Phase 7 of the trial. Out of 54 individuals arraigned, 44 were convicted while 10 cases were adjourned.
The proceedings took place across four courts, each presided over by a Federal High Court judge.
With the latest convictions, Nigeria has now recorded a total of 785 successful prosecutions related to terrorism financing and other terrorism-linked offences.
“These verdicts demonstrate the government’s sustained efforts to dismantle extremist networks, curb the financing of terrorism, and enforce justice as a tool for national security,” the statement said.
The convicted individuals received sentences ranging from 10 to 30 years, all to be served with hard labour, a measure the government says reflects the gravity of the offences and a strong commitment to deterrence and accountability.
The latest phase of the trials commenced on July 9 with a formal opening ceremony. Maj.-Gen. Adamu Laka, the National Coordinator of the NCTC, delivered remarks on behalf of the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu. The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), was represented by the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation, Mohammed Babadoko Abubakar.
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Both officials reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to upholding the rule of law and prosecuting terrorism through fair and transparent judicial processes.
Mr. Abu also provided an update on the previous Phase 6 of the trial, during which 237 cases were heard and 200 convictions secured. Those convicted received a range of sentences, including the death penalty, life imprisonment, and terms of 20 to 70 years, based on the severity of their crimes.
The offences involved include attacks on civilians, abductions, killings, the destruction of religious sites, and a particularly brutal assault on the Gina Kara Kai community in Borno State, where women and children were abducted.
The Federal Government says these prosecutions are part of a broader national strategy to counter terrorism, support victims, and uphold justice in the face of violent extremism.
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