The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Thursday, adjourned the trial of Mahmud Usman and Abubakar Abba over charges bordering on terrorism to allow the second defendant (Abba) decide whether to change his plea to the charges.
The matter, which was adjourned till Thursday for continuation of hearing, took a different turn when Abba informed the court of his intention to withdraw his earlier not guilty plea.
However, after conferring with his counsel, Husseina Tukur, Abba told the court that he was still undecided on whether to change his plea or retain the earlier one.
The prosecuting counsel, Mr David Kaswe, opposed any further adjournment, arguing that the defendant had made a similar request at the last sitting on the matter and urged the court to proceed with the trial if the defendant remained undecided.
In a short ruling, the trial judge, Justice Emeka Nwite held that it was the first time the defendant’s intention to change his plea was formally brought before the court and 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 subsequently adjourned the matter till July 20 for the defendant to decide whether to change his plea or for continuation of hearing.
The defendants, who were arrested in separate operations between May and July 2025, were slammed with a 32-count terrorism charge, including kidnapping for ransom, illegal mining to fund terrorism, Improvised Explosive Device (IED) fabrication, terrorism financing and related offences linked to Ansaru.
They are accused of coordinating sleeper cells, attacks, and ties to groups in the Sahel/Maghreb.
On arraignment, Usman pleaded guilty to one count charge of illegal mining for funding terrorism/arms and was sentenced to 15 years imprisonment. He pleaded not guilty to the remaining 31 counts while Abba pleaded not guilty to all the count charge preferred against him by the federal government.
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