Court fixes Jan 15, 2026 for trial of Ansaru terror suspects
A Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed January 15, 2026, for the trial of two alleged leaders of the Ansaru terrorist group, Mahmud Usman and Abubakar Abba, who were captured by the Department of State Services (DSS). Justice Emeka Nwite adjourned the matter on Wednesday following a plea by defence counsel, B.I. Bakum, who […]
A Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed January 15, 2026, for the trial of two alleged leaders of the Ansaru terrorist group, Mahmud Usman and Abubakar Abba, who were captured by the Department of State Services (DSS).
Justice Emeka Nwite adjourned the matter on Wednesday following a plea by defence counsel, B.I. Bakum, who requested additional time to be served with the charge and to study the proof of evidence.
At the proceedings, Bakum informed the court that both the charge and proof of evidence were still with the DSS, where the defendants were being detained on the orders of the court. He therefore asked that the accused persons be transferred to a correctional centre to enable easier access to them and ensure a smooth, timely trial.
However, counsel to the DSS, David Kaswe, an Assistant Director in the Federal Ministry of Justice, opposed the request. He argued that DSS protocol requires a defendant’s lawyer to formally write to the agency seeking permission to visit their clients—something he said the defence counsel had yet to do. Kaswe urged the court to proceed with the trial, noting that prosecution witnesses were already present.
In his ruling, Justice Nwite held that it was in the interest of fair hearing to grant the defence counsel’s request and move the trial to a future date.
The DSS has accused the two Ansaru commanders of masterminding the July 2022 attack on the Nigerian Correctional Service Centre in Kuje, Abuja, during which more than 600 inmates were freed. They are also alleged to have planned an attack on a Niger uranium facility and orchestrated several high-profile kidnappings, including that of French engineer Francis Collomp in 2013.