The Federal High Court, Abuja, presided over by Justice Emeka Nwite on Wednesday, 19 November, 2025 fixed January 15, 2026, for the commencement of the trial of two leaders of the Ansaru terrorist group, Mahmud Usman and Abubakar Abba.
Usman and Abba were captured by the Department of State Services (DSS).
The trial, which was initially slated to begin on Wednesday, was put off by the trial judge, following pleas by their counsel for time to enable him to be served with the charges, and to study the charges’ proof of evidence.
At the day’s proceedings, counsel for the accused persons, B. I Bakum 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 a prompt and hitch-free trial.
However, counsel for the DSS, David Kaswe, opposed the defendants’ lawyer’s prayer.
Kasawe, an Assistant Director in the Federal Ministry of Justice, prayed the court to begin the trial as scheduled since, according to him, the witnesses were in court.
He said 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.
Kaswe pleaded with the judge to order the defendants’ lawyer to always respect the protocol of the DSS by writing formally for permission to visit the defendants and also copy him, so that he would be of assistance.
In a brief ruling, Justice Nwite said he would, in the interest of fair hearing, consider the submission of the defendants’ lawyer and move the trial to a future date.
While adjourning the trial to January 15, 2026, he ordered the defendants lawyer to always write to the DSS for permission to visit his clients and copy the prosecutor.
Usman and Abba are being prosecuted for terrorism by the DSS.
Usman has, however, pleaded guilty to count 10 in the 32-count charge, which bordered on economic crime, while Abba pleaded not guilty to the 32-count charge on terrorism offences.
Usman, who denied the remaining 31 counts, was on September 11 sentenced to 15 years in prison after he pleaded guilty to one count of the charge against him.
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.
At the arraignment, the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation, Mohammed Abubakar, alleged in the charges that the two defendants committed the crimes between 2015 and 2024.
Among others, they were accused of bombing Wawa Military Cantonment in the Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State, receiving training in weapon handling, and fabricating improvised explosive devices.
