Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has adjourned the commencement of trial of two leaders of the Ansaru terrorist group, Mahmud Usman and Abubakar Abba, captured by the Department of State Services to january 15, 2026.
The Judge gave the order following pleas by counsel to the defendants for time to enable him to be served with the charges, and to study the counts’ proof of evidence.
The defence counsel told the court that the charge and proof of evidence were still with the DSS where the terror suspects were being detained on the orders of the court.
The lawyer prayed the court that the two defendants be moved to a correctional centre to enable easy access and ensure prompt and hitch-free trial.
But the Prosecution counsel, David Kaswe, opposed the prayers of the defence counsel.
He argued that protocol in the DSS required the defendant’s lawyer to write to the agency seeking permission to see his clients and copy him adding that, heretofore, the lawyer had failed to do so.
In a brief ruling, Justice Nwite said he would, in the interest of fair hearing, consider the submission of the defendants’ counsel and move the trial to a future date.
The Judge shifted the trial to january 15, 2026, and ordered the defendants lawyer to always write the DSS for permission to visit his clients and copy the prosecutor.
The suspects are being prosecuted for terrorism by the DSS. However, Usman has pleaded guilty to count 10 in the 32-count charge, which bordered on economic crime.
While Abubakar Abba pleaded not guilty to the 32-count charge on terrorism offences, Usman denied the remaining 31 counts.
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