ABUJA — The Federal Government has secured the conviction of 653 terrorism suspects in the latest round of mass trials at the Federal High Court in Abuja, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), said on Friday.

Briefing journalists, Fagbemi said 1,060 suspects were brought before the court in the 11th phase of the trials, the third this year. As of noon on Friday, 880 cases had been heard, resulting in 653 convictions, seven acquittals and 27 discharges. The trials are continuing.

The minister thanked the judges, led by Justice Binta Nyako, as well as the Office of the National Security Adviser, the Department of State Services, the military, the police, the correctional service and the Legal Aid Council. He said suspects were defended by Legal Aid Council lawyers and private counsel, and that the courts had recommended deradicalisation and reintegration for some of them.