Terrorism: Court defers trial of two detained Ansaru commanders to Jan 15

By Ikechukwu Nnochiri, ABUJA

The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, on Wednesday, shifted the trial of two detained commanders of the Ansaru terrorist sect, Mahmud Usman and Abubakar Abba, till January 15, 2026.

Ansaru, a breakaway faction of the Boko Haram terrorist group, was linked to several high-profile attacks and kidnappings across the country.

Usman, also known as Abu Bara’a, and his deputy, Abba, popularly called Mahmud Al-Nigeri or Isah Adam/Mallam Mamuda, are answering to a 32-count charge the Federal Government preferred against them.

FG alleged that the defendants, captured between May and July 2025 after intelligence-led operations by security agencies, masterminded various acts of terrorism.

They were said to have collected ransom running into millions of naira from families of their victims.

In the charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/464/2025, FG alleged that Usman, who is from Okene Local Government Area of Kogi State, and one Mahmud Al-Nigeri from Daura LGA of Katsina State, aided and abetted terrorist attacks that occurred in the country between 2013 and 2015.

It told the court that the defendants conspired and agreed to serve as top commanders of Jama’atu Ansarul Muslimeena Fii Bilaadis Sudan (JAMBS/Ansaru), a proscribed organisation in Nigeria that has links with the Al Qaeda terrorist network.

The defendants were further accused of receiving training in weapons handling, fabrication of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), and war tactics from Jama’atu Nusratil Islami Wal Muslimin (JNIM), a Mali-based terrorist group.

Moreover, FG alleged that they participated in the 2022 attack on Wawa Cantonment of the Nigerian Army in New Bussa, Niger State, which resulted in mass casualties.

Usman was described as the “coordinator of terrorist sleeper cells across Nigeria and the mastermind of several high-profile kidnappings and armed robberies used to fund terrorism.”

According to the prosecution, the defendants, who are currently in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS), kidnapped an immigration officer whodied in their den.

Though their trial was initially slated to kick off on Wednesday, when the case was called up, the defence lawyer, Mr B. I. Bakum, told the court that the prosecution failed to furnish him with the proof of evidence against his clients.

Alleging that he found it difficult to have access to the defendants at the DSS detention facility, the defence counsel prayed the court to order their immediate transfer to a correctional centre.

However, his application was opposed by FG’s lawyer, Mr David Kaswe, who urged the court to not only refuse it but to hear the evidence of witnesses he said were available to testify.

Kaswe told the court that the protocol at the DSS was that a formal letter must be written for a detainee to be granted access to his lawyer.

Adding that such a letter must also be copied to him, the prosecution stressed that counsel to the defendants failed to follow the rules.

In his brief ruling, Justice Emeka Nwite said he was minded to defer the commencement of the trial till a later date, in the interest of justice.

He, however, directed the defence lawyer to always write to the DSS for permission to visit his clients and to also forward a copy of the letter to the prosecution counsel.

It will be recalled that the case was equally stalled on October 21, owing to the unavailability of FG’s lawyer.

The arrest of the defendants was announced on August 16 by the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, who disclosed that they had been on national and international terror watch lists.

The 1st defendant, Usman, was on September 11 sentenced to 15 years in prison after he pleaded guilty to one count in the charge against them.

He admitted before the court that he engaged in illegal mining activities and used the proceeds to acquire arms that aided his terrorism and kidnapping activities.

Usman, however, denied other allegations the FG levelled against him in the charge before the court.

On his part, the 2nd defendant, Abba, pleaded not guilty to the entire charge.

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