Nigeria's federal government says 653 suspects have been convicted in the latest round of its mass terrorism trials. Attorney-General of the Federation Lateef Fagbemi gave the figure, describing it as the result of the 11th phase of the ongoing exercise. The trials run in batches, moving groups of suspects through the courts to cut down a backlog built over years of detentions. Fagbemi presented the convictions as evidence that the legal process is grinding forward after long delays. Human rights groups have criticised these mass proceedings in the past, questioning whether every defendant gets a fair and individual hearing. The government responds that courts review each case and acquit those with no case to answer. With hundreds now convicted, attention will shift to how many remain in detention still awaiting their turn before a judge.