A former secretary of the APC Committee of Diaspora Chairmen, Ayoola Lawal, has advocated the establishment of Special National Security Courts to accelerate the prosecution of terrorism, kidnapping, banditry and other serious crimes threatening Nigeria’s security.

Lawal said the country’s conventional court system is increasingly burdened by the rising volume of security-related cases, resulting in prolonged trials and delayed justice for victims and their families. He argued that dedicated courts would strengthen the judicial response to insecurity by ensuring faster and more efficient case management.

According to the APC chieftain, the proposed courts would exclusively handle cases involving terrorism, banditry, ransom collection, mass murder, illegal arms trafficking, ritual killings and human organ harvesting. He said the specialised courts should be staffed with trained judges, prosecutors, investigators and support personnel equipped to manage complex national security cases.

Lawal also proposed statutory timelines to expedite proceedings, including filing charges within 30 days after investigations conclude, commencing trials within 30 days of arraignment, completing trials within 180 days and delivering judgments within 30 days of final submissions.

Appeals, he said, should be resolved within 90 days, with all proceedings concluded within a maximum of 12 months except in exceptional circumstances.

He maintained that security operations alone cannot guarantee lasting peace and stressed that an effective judicial system is essential to ensuring accountability for violent crimes.

Lawal added that the proposed reforms would improve public confidence in the justice system, support the work of security agencies and strengthen deterrence against criminal activities.

The proposal comes amid ongoing concerns over insecurity across Nigeria, where incidents of terrorism, banditry and kidnapping continue to pose significant challenges to national stability. Legal experts note that the establishment of such specialised courts would likely require legislative action and could raise important constitutional questions regarding judicial processes and defendants’ rights.

Lawal emphasised that the initiative is not intended to undermine judicial independence or constitutional safeguards but to ensure that national security cases are handled fairly, transparently and within a reasonable timeframe.