Defendant requests adjournment to consider plea change
One of two suspected commanders of the Ansaru terrorist group captured alive by Nigerian security forces has requested additional time from the Federal High Court in Abuja to decide whether to alter his not-guilty plea. Abubakar Abba, also known as Abu Bara'a, appeared before Judge Emeka Nwite on Tuesday, who adjourned proceedings until 20 July to allow the defendant to make a final decision on his plea.
Mr Abba is standing trial alongside Mahmud Usman, also known as Isah Adam. Both defendants are globally wanted suspected terrorists linked to al-Qaeda and were captured alive by Nigerian security forces in August 2025. They face 32 terrorism-related charges, including illegal mining and terrorist attacks in Nigeria between 2013 and 2015.
Co-defendant already sentenced
Mr Usman pleaded guilty to one of the 32 counts, leading Judge Nwite to sentence him to 15 years' imprisonment. In contrast, Mr Abba initially pleaded not guilty to all 32 counts. The State Security Service (SSS) reported that the defendants were arrested in separate operations between May and July 2025.
During Thursday's hearing, Mr Abba informed the court that he wished to review his not-guilty plea. Judge Nwite briefly paused proceedings to allow Mr Abba to consult with his lawyer, Husseina Tukur. After the consultation, Mr Abba stated that he had not yet decided whether to change his plea.
Prosecution opposes further delay
Prosecution lawyer David Kaswe opposed the adjournment, arguing that Mr Abba had made a similar request at the previous sitting. He urged the court to proceed with the trial if the defendant remained unable to decide. In his ruling, Judge Nwite noted that the request had not been officially recorded earlier. He stated, "As the issue was for the first time being officially raised on record, the defendant should be given the opportunity to make up his mind." The judge adjourned the case until 20 July for Mr Abba to indicate whether he will change his plea or for the trial to continue.
Background of the case
Premium Times reported that the SSS arraigned the two suspected Ansaru leaders before the Federal High Court in Abuja on 11 September 2025. They face 32 charges including terrorism, terrorism financing, kidnapping for ransom, illegal mining, funding terrorism, and fabricating improvised explosive devices. The agency also alleged that they coordinated sleeper cells, orchestrated attacks, and maintained links with al-Qaeda-affiliated terrorist groups operating across the Sahel and Maghreb regions.
At the arraignment, Mr Usman pleaded guilty to one count of illegal mining used to finance terrorism. Judge Nwite convicted him and sentenced him to 15 years' imprisonment on that count, but Mr Usman pleaded not guilty to the remaining 31 counts. Mr Abba pleaded not guilty to all 32 counts, and the court ordered both defendants remanded in SSS custody pending trial.
Trial stalled over access issues
The trial later stalled after defence lawyer Bala Dakum complained that SSS officials denied him access to the defendants to prepare their defence. When proceedings resumed in March, the prosecution opened its case with testimony from an SSS operative identified by the codename "Triple A." Triple A told the court that the defendants confessed to receiving weapons training in Libya and maintaining links with terrorist groups operating across the Sahel and Maghreb regions. The witness stated that the confessions were obtained in a conducive atmosphere.
According to Triple A, the suspects admitted receiving training in the manufacture of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) from instructors from Egypt, Tunisia, and Algeria while in Libya. He said that Mr Usman was arrested after prolonged intelligence gathering that identified him as the leader of Jama'atu Ansarul Muslimina Fi Biladis Sudan (Ansaru). Mr Abba was arrested by SSS operatives at Ugwan Musa Bypass, Kaduna North Local Government Area, Kaduna State.
Defendants' confessions and group activities
Triple A said both defendants admitted being members of Ansaru, which he described as a breakaway faction of Boko Haram involved in terrorism, kidnapping, banditry, armed robbery, and illegal mining across the North-West, North-Central, South-West, and parts of the southern region, including Edo and Delta states. The witness added that the suspects confessed to founding Ansaru in Jigawa State after holding several meetings in 2012. They further confessed to kidnapping the in-law of former President Muhammadu Buhari, Alhaji Musa Umar Uba, as well as an immigration officer and a customs officer.
The witness said Mr Abba provided details of how he became involved with the group. "He confessed to me and my team that he joined Boko Haram in 2013 in Daura, Katsina State through one Lawan," Triple A testified.
Arrest announced by National Security Adviser
The National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, announced the arrest of the defendants at a news conference in mid-August 2025. Mr Ribadu said their capture followed a high-risk, intelligence-led, multi-agency operation conducted between May and July 2025. He described the arrests as a major breakthrough, stating they marked "the beginning of the end of impunity for terrorist leaders in Nigeria." He added that the men had long been on both national and international terror watch lists.
The two were identified as among the most wanted Ansaru commanders. Ansaru, an al-Qaeda-affiliated group, has been linked to numerous high-profile attacks and kidnappings across the country.
