Nigerian Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi has urged the judiciary to fast-track trials involving terrorism, kidnapping, human trafficking, and other high-risk offences.
He warned that slow justice now poses a threat to national and regional security.
Speaking at the opening of the Court of Appeal’s 2025/2026 Legal Year in Abuja, Fagbemi stressed that the courts must rise to meet the country’s escalating security challenges with urgent and courageous adjudication.
He described the judiciary as “the guardian of justice and the custodian of the rule of law,” stressing that swift rulings in terrorism-related cases would reinforce national stability.
“At this solemn juncture in our national life, it is impossible to ignore the grave challenge of insecurity that confronts our country,” Fagbemi said.
He said; “From insurgency and terrorism to banditry, kidnapping, and violent crimes, these threats imperil not only citizens’ safety but also the very fabric of our constitutional democracy.”
He praised the Court of Appeal for introducing special sittings across its 20 divisions to reduce crushing backlogs, calling it a sign of “responsiveness to public concerns about delays in the dispensation of justice.”
Fagbemi reaffirmed the government’s multi-pronged strategy against terrorism, combining military action with legal and non-kinetic tools.
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“The judicial system’s effectiveness strengthens when terrorism cases receive swift hearings and resolutions, demonstrating that terrorism faces immediate and decisive legal action,” he emphasised.
President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem, cautioned that political and post-election cases continue to overwhelm the court, diverting attention from other urgent matters, including security-related appeals.
“We remain steadfast in our solemn duty to ensure that appeals are heard promptly and with the highest level of dedication, commitment, and diligence,” Justice Dongban-Mensem said.
Calling on political actors to show restraint and respect democratic outcomes, she said that “the appellate court received 5,225 appeals and 9,906 motions during the 2024 legal year alone.”
Justice Dongban-Mensem stressed that the court is committed to creating an environment where justice is both efficient and humane.
“The commitment to justice is reflected not only in our decisions, but also in the atmosphere we cultivate. We strive to uphold justice and respect, ensuring that all litigants are meaningfully heard and their rights protected through continued use of alternative dispute resolution mechanisms,” she added.