A United States delegation on a fact-finding mission to Nigeria on Tuesday held a closed-door meeting with the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, at the Ministry of Justice headquarters in Abuja.
Although the session was held in camera, Fagbemi told journalists afterwards that discussions focused squarely on Nigeria’s security situation, particularly terrorism.
He noted that the Federal Government had previously briefed US officials in Washington, but said the visit provided an opportunity for further clarification.
“We have explained this to them when we visited Washington, but I am happy they are also here to see things for themselves,” the AGF said. “Even though we have challenges in Nigeria, it is not religious. We have security challenges, and the government is doing its utmost to address them.”
Fagbemi disclosed that the ministry had prosecuted several terror suspects in recent years, revealing that between 2017 and 2025, 860 convictions and 891 acquittals were recorded.
“What this shows is that we follow due process,” he said. “We don’t just arrest people and throw them into prison. They are profiled. Those with no case to answer are released, and those who must be prosecuted are taken to court. It is then left for the court to decide.”
The AGF declined to elaborate on questions posed by the delegation, saying members of the team would brief the public before departing Nigeria. He noted that the visitors had already met with the National Security Adviser, the Chief of Defence Staff, civil society groups and religious organisations.
“But what I want to tell you is that things are not as heinous as people are portraying,” Fagbemi added. “We have problems in Nigeria, but it is not a problem of religion.”
The delegation included Riley M. Barnes, US Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights and Labour, and the US Ambassador to Nigeria, Richard Mills Jr. Also present at the meeting was the Solicitor-General of the Federation, Beatrice Jeddy-Agba.
