The Federal Government will tomorrow, re-arraign five men accused of complicity in the May 15 kidnap of pupils and teachers in the Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State and subsequent killing of two of the victims.
They are to be arraigned by the Department of State Services (DSS) on behalf of the Federal Government on a six-count amended charge marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/438/2026.
The accused persons identified as members of the Jama’atu Ansarul Muslimina fi-Biladis Sudan (ANSARU) terrorist group are, Mahmud Muhammad (aka Abu Bara’a, Abbas Mukhtar); Abubakar Abbas (aka Isah Adam, Mallam Mahmuda Al-Nigeri); Abdulrazak Umar (aka Abu Khalifa/Abu Khalid); Yunusa Musa (aka Abu Yunusa Bin Musa), and Shamsu Adamu Sani (aka Abu Itisar).
Although, the suspects were to be arraigned on today, September 16, it was however aborted following the insistence of the accused persons to be defended by lawyers of their own choice.
At Wednesday’s aborted proceedings, Mr Akilaluyel Shettima, a Deputy Director with the Legal Aid Council had announced appearance for the five of them but the first accused person, Mahmud Muhammad objected.
Speaking on behalf of his colleagues, Muhammad told Justice Salim Ibrahim that they had been represented by one Bala Dakum as their lawyer before and would want him to continue to defend them.
At this point, the Federal Government lawyer and Director of the Public Prosecution of the Federation (DPPF) Mr Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN conceded that the issue of choice of lawyer is a Constitutional matter that must be respected and allowed for the accused persons.
Oyedepo told the Court that the DSS is a law abiding institution not interested in persecution of the accused persons but only interested in justice.
At this point, the trial judge, Justice Ibrahim resolved to shift the fresh arraignment to tomorrow, September 17 and ordered the accused persons to contact their lawyer to be in Court today for the re-arraignment to hold.
Justice Ibrahim also asked the DSS to allow the accused persons access their lawyer to prepare for their defense as required by law.
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