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The federal government allocated $1.371 billion in the 2026 budget for the prosecution of Boko Haram and other terrorism-related cases, marking a sharp increase of 159% from the $530 million allocated in 2025.
The provision, acquired by the Federal Ministry of Justice, highlights a renewed push by the government to strengthen the legal response to terrorism and insecurity.
An analysis of the Appropriation Bill, 2026, recently promulgated by President Bola Tinubu, shows that appropriation constitutes a significant component of the ministry’s capital expenditure.
Tinubu had approved a total budget of 68.32 trillion naira for fiscal year 2026, of which 5.41 trillion naira – about 7.9% – is earmarked for defense and security, reflecting the continued priority of fighting insurgency and violent crimes.
Further findings indicate that the 1.371 billion naira for terrorism-related prosecutions represents approximately 14.1% of the Ministry of Justice Headquarters capital budget of 9.725 billion naira, compared to 7.9% recorded in 2025.
The overall endowment of the ministry’s headquarters also increased from 19.861 billion naira in 2025 to 23.685 billion naira in 2026, indicating an increase of 19.3% year-on-year.
The vote on the terrorism charge ranks among the top capital items for the ministry, along with funding for infrastructure upgrades, international litigation, liability management and criminal justice reforms.
This signals a strategic shift towards intensifying prosecution of terrorism suspects, in a context of growing workloads and complexity of insurgency-related trials.
In December 2025, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), had called on the judiciary to expedite hearings on terrorism, kidnapping and human trafficking cases.
He stressed that speedy judgment remains critical to national security and the rule of law, warning that delays could embolden criminal networks and undermine public confidence in the justice system.
Recent data from the Federal Government shows that 386 convictions were obtained out of 508 terrorism-related cases heard at the Federal High Court, Abuja, during the ninth phase of the mass trials concluded in early April 2026.
According to the AGF, eight suspects were acquitted, two acquitted, while 112 cases were referred to further proceedings, with the next phase scheduled for mid-June.
Security experts, however, urged the government to ensure transparency and accountability in the use of the increased funding.
A retired Assistant Inspector General of Police, Wilson Inalegwu, stressed the need for a coordinated approach involving law enforcement, judiciary and correctional services.
He warned that weak custody infrastructure could undermine the prosecution’s efforts, stressing that escapes remain a major risk if facilities are not adequately protected.
Similarly, a security analyst, Chidi Omeje, called for a detailed disclosure of how the funds would be spent, stressing that while investments in the prosecution of terrorism are necessary, accountability must not be overlooked.
He also advocated speedy trials, warning that prolonged detention of suspects could increase security threats, including potential attacks on detention centers.
The increased allocation comes amid ongoing efforts by the federal government to step up its response to the insurgency, as authorities continue mass trials of terrorist suspects across the country.
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