The Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Mr. Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), responded to the recent increase in abductions of journalists, emphasizing that everyone will be subject to the laws of the country.
Speaking during the ongoing ministerial sectoral briefing marking the one-year anniversary of the President Bola Tinubu administration, Fagbemi assured that the government will uphold the rule of law and ensure justice is served. He stressed that justice cannot be rationalized but must be dispensed according to the law, regardless of the individuals involved.
Security forces have been targeting journalists more frequently since the beginning of the year. Notable cases include the abduction of Segun Olatunji, Daniel Ojukwu’s detention, Jamil Mabai’s arrest, and Madu Onuorah’s recent arrest. Despite these incidents, Fagbemi highlighted that the government achieved 166 criminal convictions over the past year.
He mentioned that joint investigations and collaboration frameworks have been established with security and law enforcement agencies.
Among the convictions, 87 were related to terrorism cases, and 13 were linked to terrorism financing. Fagbemi also noted that 625 cases were initiated against the president, the federal government, and its agencies in various courts within the same period.
He expressed satisfaction with the progress made in prosecuting terrorism cases and emphasized ongoing efforts to ensure justice and uphold the rule of law.
