The Federal Government on Thursday re-arraigned five alleged members of the proscribed terrorist group, Jama’atu Ansarul Muslimina fi-Biladis Sudan (ANSARU), over their alleged involvement in the abduction of pupils and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State and the subsequent killing of two victims.
The defendants were brought before the Federal High Court in Abuja in connection with the May 15 incident.
They are Mahmud Muhammad, also known as Abu Bara’a and Abbas Mukhtar; Abubakar Abbas, also known as Isah Adam and Mallam Mahmuda Al-Nigeri; Abdulrazak Umar, alias Abu Khalifa/Abu Khalid; Yunusa Musa, alias Abu Yunusa Bin Musa; and Shamsu Adamu Sani, alias Abu Itisar.
The Federal Government, in an amended seven-count charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/438/2026, accused the five men of offences including conspiracy, aiding the commission of a terrorist act, withholding information from security agencies, kidnapping and killings.
The defendants all pleaded not guilty to the charges after they were read to them by a court official.
Following their pleas, the lead prosecuting counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), who is the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation (DPPF), urged the court to allow the prosecution to commence the trial pursuant to the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015.
Oyedepo also asked the court to protect the identities of prosecution witnesses by allowing them to testify while wearing masks, citing the need to safeguard them.
Counsel to the defendants, Bala Dakum, did not oppose the prosecution’s application.
Justice Salim Ibrahim subsequently granted the prosecution’s requests and ordered the trial to proceed.
The case stems from the May 15 abduction of pupils and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area, an incident that also resulted in the deaths of two of the victims.
Post A Comment: