AGF requests for charter flight for Judicial officers handling terror cases in 2024 budget

By Adekunle Adesuji

Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Federation, Lateef Fagbemi has requested for charter flight for Judicial officers handling terror suspects in the country in 2024 budget.

Fagbemi who appeared before the Senate Committee on Judiciary , Human Rights and Legal Matters for 2024 budget defence on Monday added that the Ministry is currently defending 2000 cases , with huge potential liabilities on Federal government.

The Attorney General said, ” I wish to note that the process of proscription and prosecution of terror suspects and entities entails considerable funding inclusive of catering for the logistics and welfare of judges, prosecutors, support staff, witnesses, and provision of security for the trial, etc.

” In order to ensure the security and confidence of the judicial officers coupled with the location of the trial. the Ministry is required to charter aircrafts to air lift them. The Ministry is also spending considerable resources on provision or upgrading of infrastructural facilities at the various venues to make them fit for purpose.”

Speaking on the Judgement debts that is yet to be addressed by Federal government , he said, ” I wish to note that there are already backlogs of obligations which needs to be cleared in order to sustain the current efforts of the Ministry in reducing government’s exposure to judgement debts as well as ensuring that implementation of government policies/ projects are not hindered by litigation.

“It is to be noted that some of the upaid claims unfortunately have been outstanding since 2007.

” The Ministry is also currently defending over 2000 cases, with huge potential liabilities , on behalf of Federal government and it’s Ministries , Departments and Agencies.”

The Ministry budget as proposed by the Attorney General of the Federation is N14 billion .

The Ministry has been allocated N5.3 billion as capital expenditure and N8.8 billion as recurrent Expenditure .