Attorney-General of the Federation Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) has urged Nigeria’s judiciary to accelerate the handling of terrorism, kidnapping, human trafficking and other violent-crime cases, stressing that swift justice is essential to complement military operations in the fight against insecurity.

Speaking at the opening of the Court of Appeal 2025/2026 Legal Year, Fagbemi warned that prolonged trials and indiscriminate detention only embolden criminals and fuel impunity. He described the judiciary as the guardian of the rule of law and insisted that it must lend its full weight to national efforts by ensuring that terrorists, kidnappers and traffickers are held accountable without delay. According to him, when terrorism cases are resolved quickly, it sends an unmistakable message that acts of terror will meet immediate and decisive legal consequences.

Fagbemi announced that the Tinubu administration will soon appoint additional Federal High Court judges dedicated to clearing the backlog of terrorism-related cases, a move he said would strengthen Nigeria’s counter-terrorism adjudication framework.

Also present at the ceremony, FCT Minister Nyesom Wike pledged new residential estates for judges and immediate perimeter fencing of the Supreme Court complex to protect it from encroachment and enhance security. He argued that comfortable and secure accommodation would allow judges to focus entirely on justice delivery without distractions from poor living conditions, adding that budgetary provisions had already been made and construction would begin in 2026.

The pledges come at a time when Nigeria is grappling with a surge in mass abductions, banditry and insurgent attacks. Informed observers have long accused slow prosecution of undermining military gains, warning that without judicial speed, victories on the battlefield risk being eroded in the courts.