The ongoing terrorism trial of two suspected leaders of the Ansaru terrorist group, an Al-Qaeda-linked organisation – Mahmud Muhammed Usman (aka Abu Bara’a/Abbas Mukhtar) and Abubakar Abba (aka Isah Adam/Mahmud Al-Nigeri) – has been postponed till November 19.
On Tuesday, Justice Emeka Nwite postponed the hearing earlier scheduled for the day owing to the absence of the lawyer for the prosecution.
When the case was called on Tuesday, Justice Nwite noted that the lawyer to the prosecution, Mohammed Abubakar wrote a letter to the court, apologising for his inability to attend court.
Abubakar, in the letter, sought an adjournment to enable him attend court on the next date to enable him personally conduct the trial.
DON'T MISS
Lawyers to the defendants did not object, following which Justice Nwite adjourned till November 19 for the commencement of trial.
Usman said to be from Okene Local Government Area, Kogi State and Abba said to be from Daura Local Government Area of Katsina State are being prosecuted on a 32-count charge brought against them by the Department of State Services (DSS).
At their arraignment on September 11 on the charge, marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/464/2025, Usman pleaded guilty to a count, in which he was accused of involvement in illegal mining activities.
Usman and Abba pleaded not guilty to the other 31 counts relating to terrorism allegations.
Following Usman’s guilty plea to count 10 of the 32-count charge, Justice Nwite convicted him on that count and sentenced him to 15 years imprisonment.
Justice Nwite ordered that the defendants be remanded in the custody of the DSS and adjourned till October 21 for trial.
Usman and Abba are accused, in the charge, of among others, being involved in the bombing Wawa Military Cantonment in Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State, receiving training in weapon handling and fabrication of improvised explosive devices.
They are also alleged to belonged to foreign terror groups; engaged in terrorism financing, kidnapping and receiving training on war tactic from a terrorising organization in Mali.
The DSS also accused them of kidnapping a Custom officer and another Immigration Officer, who was killed while in their custody.
The DSS alleged that the defendants collected ransom in millions of naira from the families of their victims before they were eventually arrested.
The defendants were also alleged to have engaged in unlawful mining of mineral resources without valid license from which they also made millions of naira.
The DSS claimed that the huge sums they realised from kidnapping and unlawful minerals mining were deployed to the procurement of arms and ammunitions, including improvised explosive devices.
It also alleged that both defendants received training on terrorism and war tactics in Sudan and Mali and also facilitated similar training for their followers.
Usman and Abba are also accused of concealing information on terror attacks on various locations in Niger State.
