Court gives Ansaru commander time to review plea

The Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday adjourned the trial of an alleged commander of Ansaru, an Al-Qaeda-affiliated terrorist group, until July 20 to enable him to decide whether to change his not guilty plea to the terrorism charges filed against him.

The defendant, Abubakar Abba, also known as Abu Bara, is standing trial alongside Mahmud Usman, also known as Isah Adam and Mahmud Al-Nigeri, before Justice Emeka Nwite on a 32-count charge bordering on terrorism and related offences.

The matter, which came up for continuation of hearing, took a different turn after Abba informed the court of his intention to withdraw the not guilty plea he entered at his arraignment.

However, after conferring with his counsel, Husseina Tukur, the defendant told the court that he was yet to make a final decision on whether to change his plea or retain the earlier one.

Prosecution counsel, David Kaswe, opposed any further adjournment, arguing that the defendant 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 a short ruling, Justice Nwite held that it was the first time the defendant’s intention to review his plea had been formally brought before the court.

The judge held that since the issue was being officially raised on record for the first time, the defendant should be given an opportunity to make up his mind.

Justice Nwite thereafter adjourned the matter until July 20 for Abba to indicate whether he would change his plea or for the trial to continue.

The defendants were arrested by the Department of State Services in separate operations conducted between May and July 2025.

They were subsequently arraigned on a 32-count charge bordering on terrorism, terrorism financing, kidnapping for ransom, illegal mining, financing terrorism, fabrication of improvised explosive devices and other related offences.

According to the prosecution, the defendants coordinated sleeper cells, orchestrated attacks and maintained links with terrorist groups operating in the Sahel and Maghreb regions.

At their arraignment, Usman pleaded guilty to one count of illegal mining for the purpose of funding terrorism and procuring arms. He was convicted and sentenced to 15 years’ imprisonment on the count.

He, however, pleaded not guilty to the remaining 31 counts, while Abba pleaded not guilty to all the charges.