Suspects Face Six-Count Amended Charge Over May Kidnap of Pupils, Teachers
The Department of State Services (DSS) will on Thursday re-arraign five suspected members of the Ansaru terrorist group over their alleged involvement in the May 15 abduction of pupils and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.
The suspects are also accused of involvement in the subsequent killing of two of the abducted victims.
They are to be re-arraigned before the Federal High Court in Abuja on a six-count amended charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/438/2026, filed by the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, Rotimi Oyedepo, on behalf of the Federal Government.
The defendants are Mahmud Muhammad, also known as Abu Bara’a and Abbas Mukhtar; Abubakar Abbas, aka Isah Adam and Mallam Mahmuda Al-Nigeri; Abdulrazak Umar, aka Abu Khalifa and Abu Khalid; Yunusa Musa, aka Abu Yunusa Bin Musa; and Shamsu Adamu Sani, aka Abu Itisar.
The suspects were initially scheduled for arraignment on Wednesday, but proceedings were stalled after the first defendant, Muhammad, objected to being represented by a lawyer from the Legal Aid Council.
Deputy Director of the Legal Aid Council, Akilaluyel Shettima, had announced his appearance for the five defendants before Justice Saliu Ibrahim.
Muhammad, speaking on behalf of the other defendants, told the court that they had previously been represented by lawyer Bala Dakum and wanted him to continue with their defence.
The DPPF, Oyedepo, SAN, acknowledged that the defendants had a constitutional right to counsel of their choice.
Following the development, Justice Ibrahim adjourned the matter until Thursday for the defendants to be re-arraigned.
The judge directed the defendants to contact Dakum and ensure his presence in court. He also ordered the DSS to grant the suspects access to their lawyer to enable them prepare their defence in accordance with the law.