The Federal Government has called on the judiciary to ensure speedy trial of kidnappers, bandits and terror suspects to tame the ravaging wave of insecurity across the country.
Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice (AGF), Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), made the call yesterday at the 2025/2026 legal year of the Court of Appeal.
Fagbemi spoke as the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, expressed President Bola Tinubu’s commitment for strong, independent, and efficient judiciary.
The AGF noted that the prompt trial of the suspected criminals by courts would help reduce the rate of criminality in all parts of the country.
He explained that government rather than resorting to detention or battlefield engagements, is focusing on the timely prosecution of suspects implicated in mass-casualty attacks, kidnap-for-ransom networks, extremist recruitment and terror-financing activities.
The AGF said,“At this solemn juncture in our national life, it is 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 said the FG remains committed to combating terrorism through a combination of kinetic and non-kinetic strategies,adding that it recognises the swift administration of justice is a vital complement to military and intelligence operations.
The AGF also said the government was mindful that speedy trial can only be achieved by enhancing the capacity of the judges who would handle this cases and other cases in the docket of our courts.
Consequently, he hinted that President Bola Tinubu is committed to the immediate appointment of additional judges of the Federal High Court to reinforce and boost the national counter-terrorism efforts and ensure that terrorism-related cases and other cases are handled promptly and effectively.
The AGF called on all citizens to unite in confronting the scourge of terrorism, adding,”This is a time for collective resolve, not distraction—as we work together to secure our nation.”
Fagbemi expressed happiness with the Court of Appeal for the achievements recorded in the 2024/2025 legal year, especially its special sittings across its divisions to tackle case congestion and expedite justice.
In her speech, the President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem, who decried the high volume of election petition cases appealed to politicians to always respect the will of the electorates by embracing the spirit of sportsmanship and accepting the outcome of election results in good faith.
Dongban-Mensem lamented that the prosecution of the high volume of election petitions has drained the finances of the court leaving the court in serious debts.
She noted that,”democracy cannot flourish if every electoral contest is dragged into the courtroom.
“Endless litigation drains our scarce resources. We are currently in serious debts. We therefore ,appeal to political actors: democracy cannot flourish if every electoral contest is dragged into the courtroom. The spirit of sportsmanship must prevail. We urge politicians to respect the will of the electorate, accept outcomes in good faith, and place the peace and progress of our nation above personal ambition,” Justice Dongban-Mensem stated.”
She disclosed that,”although the general elections are behind us, electoral litigation remained a dominant feature of our docket. Post-election disputes from governorship and legislative contests continued to reach the Court for off-season elections.
“In total, 154 post-election appeals were filed, and I am pleased to state that they were all concluded within statutory timelines. Following the timetable released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Court duly constituted Election Petition Tribunals across the country in line with the law.
“The off-season elections in Edo and Ondo states contributed significantly to the volume of petitions received. Furthermore, following the rerun and bye-elections conducted on August 16,2025, in 16 Federal and State constituencies across 13 states, a total of 36 fresh petitions were filed. These include: both a Governorship Election Tribunal and a National and State Assembly Election Tribunal in Anambra State
“Beyond adjudication, we partnered with Kimpact Development Initiative (KDI) to strengthen public confidence and develop a communication strategy for election cases. Our aim is to ensure transparency, protect judicial integrity, and counter misinformation.
“In our continued effort to ensure timely access to justice, the Court is currently in the process of appointing 11 Justices to the Court to fill the existing vacancies. This step is essential to strengthening our judicial capacity and improving the overall efficiency of the Court.
The jurist disclosed that the Court received 5,225 appeals and 9,906 motions across its 20 divisions, during the 2024/2025 legal year.
“In the same period, we successfully determined 3,193 appeals and heard 5,623 motions. Of the Appeals concluded, 2,503 were dismissed ,while 690 were allowed. As at 31st October 2025, the court has 31,618 appeals and 3,382 motions pending.When compared with the 2023/2024 legal year, a clear improvement emerges.
“In that year, only 2,299 appeals were determined, and the number of pending appeals stood at 41,952. The significant reduction in the backlog this year reflects the exceptional commitment and hard work of my brother Justices in dispensing justice judiciously and judicially,” Justice Dongban-Mensem revealed.”
In his goodwill message at the occasion, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, expressed the commitment of President Bola Tinubu to ensure a strong, Independent and efficient judiciary.
“Let me state that Justice must never be compromised under any circumstances, for it is the bedrock of our democracy and the safeguard of public trust. It is the responsibility of all stakeholders, judges, legal practitioners, government agencies, and citizens alike to work collaboratively to strengthen and improve our judicial system.
“One of the hallmarks by which I live is the principle of equity, justice and fairness; this is the cornerstone of our democracy and the anchor of Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
“Sir Winston Churchill once observed that “Justice is a machine that, when someone has once given it the starting push, rolls on of itself.” His words capture both the autonomy of the judicial process and the herculean responsibility society bears to ensure that this machine is properly built, maintained, and protected from undue interference.
“It is against this background that Mr. President has recognized that a strong, independent, and efficient judiciary is indispensable to the peace and stability of the Federal Capital Territory and our great nation Nigeria.
Wike disclosed that in the past 12 months, his administration has executed several projects and initiatives aimed at providing a more conducive environment for judicial officers and the administration of justice.
He said most of the projects which are a matter of public knowledge, including Residential Infrastructure Development; expansion of court facilities,support for legal education and commitment to the Court of Appeal, are designed to directly support judges in the performance of their duties.
“The reasoning of Tinubu’s administration is that providing comfortable and secure accommodation, allow judges to focus entirely on the timely and efficient administration of justice, free from the distractions of inadequate living conditions.”
“Similarly, well-equipped court facilities, chambers, and support infrastructure ensure that judicial work is conducted in a professional, safe, and conducive environment, thereby ,enhancing productivity, reducing delays, and upholding the independence and integrity of the judiciary.
“We will aggressively push for the timely completion of the new residential quarters for Heads of Courts and the Jabi Magistrate Court Complex to ensure prompt utilization.”
Wike further disclosed that his administration has made budgetary provisions to construct additional residential houses for FCT High Court Judges to mitigate housing shortages and ensure all judicial officers are appropriately accommodated.
“We will continue to collaborate with the various FCT-based judiciaries (including the Court of Appeal) to support the digitization of court proceedings and registries to improve efficiency, reduce manual processes, and accelerate the dispensation of justice.
