The Federal Government has moved forward with the prosecution of 500 suspected terrorists as part of an intensified effort to tackle insecurity. The Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) Lateef Fagbemi said this yesterday after he led a team of the Federal Government’s lawyers to the Federal High Court Abuja where he appeared as prosecution counsel.

The minister said the 500 defendants are being prosecuted in the ongoing Phase 9 of the mass trial of suspected terrorists in Abuja. The mass trial of the suspected terrorists was moved to Abuja from the usual location in Kainji, Niger State. The AGF said the trial, which began yesterday, would be concluded between Friday or Saturday.

Fagbemi said: “For today, we have 227 suspects brought to court on this terrorism charges and they are appearing before 10 judges of the Federal High Court. “Don’t forget, this is Easter period. Ordinarily, the judges are not supposed to be here; they are supposed to be in their various homes to observe the Easter vacation.

“They have been so patriotic and they have prioritised the trial of terrorism suspects to underscore the importance that is attached to this trial. So, we thank them. “This is Phase 9, don’t forget. For Phase 9, we have 500 in all and it will last till either Friday or Saturday. “It is hoped that from these 500, we will be able to go very, very far.

“So, we thank all the critical stakeholders, including of course you, members of the fourth estate of the realm, for considering the service to the nation first and foregoing your Easter period,” he said. On why the trial was moved from Kainji to Abuja, the minister said it was due to logistic purpose. He said: “Whether the cases are tried in Kainji or Maiduguri, those to try terrorism suspects are judges of the Federal High Court.”