Ansaru Terror Suspects' Trial Pushed to 2026 After Defence Plea
A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has rescheduled the commencement of the terrorism trial of two alleged leaders of the Ansaru terrorist group. Justice Emeka Nwite has now fixed January 15, 2026, as the new date for the trial of Mahmud Usman and Abubakar Abba, which was originally set to begin on Wednesday, November 19, 2025.
Legal Tussle Over Access and Procedure
The adjournment was granted following a passionate plea by the defence counsel, B. I. Bakum. He informed the court that he had not yet been served with the charges and the proof of evidence held by the Department of State Services (DSS), where the defendants are currently detained. Bakum also urged the court to order the transfer of his clients to a correctional centre to facilitate easier access ahead of the trial.
However, the DSS counsel, David Kaswe, an Assistant Director at the Federal Ministry of Justice, strongly opposed the request. He insisted that the trial should proceed immediately since prosecution witnesses were already present in court. Kaswe explained that the DSS requires a formal written request before any counsel can access detainees, a requirement he stated the defence had not fulfilled. He asked the court to compel the defence lawyer to comply with DSS protocol and to copy the prosecution in all correspondence to ensure smooth proceedings.
Court's Ruling and Detailed Charges
In his ruling, Justice Emeka Nwite emphasized that a fair hearing necessitated that the defendants' counsel be given adequate time to properly study the case file. Consequently, he shifted the trial to January 15, 2026. The judge also ordered the defence to formally write the DSS for access to their clients and to copy the prosecution on all future letters.
The two suspects are facing a 32-count terrorism charge brought by the DSS. Mahmud Usman has pleaded guilty to Count 10, which relates to economic crimes, but has denied the remaining 31 counts. Abba Abubakar has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
In a related development, Usman, also known as Abu Bara'a, was sentenced to 15 years in prison in September after admitting that he engaged in illegal mining and used the proceeds to acquire weapons for terrorism and kidnapping.
The defendants are accused of committing a range of terrorism-related offences between 2015 and 2024. The allegations against them include:
- Bombing the Wawa Military Cantonment in Niger State.
- Receiving weapons training in Sudan and Mali.
- Fabricating Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs).
- Kidnapping security operatives.
- Engaging in terrorism financing.
- Belonging to foreign terror networks.
- Training their followers in terrorist activities.
The DSS further claims that the suspects engaged in illegal mining, earning millions of naira which was used to procure arms and ammunition, including IEDs. Both suspects were apprehended in intelligence-led operations between May and July 2025. Ansaru, a splinter faction of Boko Haram, has been linked to several high-profile attacks and kidnappings across Nigeria.
