The Federal High Court in Abuja has postponed the trial of Mahmud Usman and Abubakar Abba, two suspected leaders of the Ansaru terrorist group, to November 19, 2025, following the absence of the Department of State Services (DSS) attorney.
According to reports, the case, which was supposed to be heard before Justice Emeka Nwite on Tuesday, October 21, was unable to proceed when Mohammed Abubakar, the DSS counsel, sent a letter expressing regret for his absence and asking for an adjournment.
In the letter to the court registrar, Abubakar requested additional time so that he could personally conduct the trial at the next session.
Justice Nwite granted the request after hearing the defense attorney’s explanation and delayed the case to November 19 for further proceedings.
One defendant has already been found guilty.
The most recent adjournment occurred weeks after Mahmud Muhammed Usman, also known as Abu Bara’a, one of the defendants, was found guilty of 32 terrorism-related offenses by the DSS and sentenced to 15 years in prison for illegal mining.
Usman pleaded guilty to Count 10 of the indictment, which specifically dealt with illegal mining, and was found guilty as a result. He is reportedly from Kogi State’s Okene Local Government Area.
The judge, Justice Nwite, sentenced him to 15 years in prison and mandated that the other counts, which included offenses related to terrorism, be handled separately.
His co-defendant, Abubakar Abba, from Daura, Katsina State, also known as Isah Adam or Mahmud Al-Nigeri, entered a not guilty plea on all 32 counts of the charge and denied all of the accusations.
DSS Says It Has Connections to Foreign Terror Cells
The two defendants allegedly participated in multiple criminal operations throughout northern Nigeria between 2015 and 2024 and were members of the Ansaru terrorist network, according to the accusations the DSS filed.
They were charged with obtaining tactical training from international terror groups in Mali and Sudan, training in the use of explosives and weapons, and bombing the Wawa Military Cantonment in the Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State.
The two were also accused by the prosecution of engaging in illegal mining, abduction, and terrorism funding, from which they allegedly made millions of naira that they used to buy weapons, ammunition, and improvised explosive devices (IEDs).
According to the DSS, both guys abducted an immigration officer and a customs officer, the latter of whom was slain while in their care. According to the agency, they forced their victims’ relatives to pay millions of naira in ransom.
They were charged by the DSS of hiding intelligence information on planned terror strikes in Niger State and other Northern regions in another count.
The defendants were accused of illegally mining mineral resources without a valid license in addition to terrorism-related offenses, which the DSS said provided them with extra funds for their activities.
According to the prosecution, the two illegally mined and sold mineral resources in the states of Kogi and Niger, making enormous profits that were used to fund extremist networks and buy weapons.
The defense refutes the accusations and demands a fair trial.
Aside from Usman’s admission of guilt on the single count of illegal mining, both men insisted on their innocence at the arraignment. Abba, the second defendant, insisted that he was being falsely charged and rejected all 32 allegations.
In a prior ruling, Justice Nwite ordered the defendants to stay in DSS custody in Abuja until the issue was resolved.
According to the judge, the court decided to remand them in order to protect the integrity of the ongoing investigations and the safety of the witnesses.
According to reports, Usman and Abba were charged by the DSS earlier this year on 32 charges, including conspiracy, unlawful mining, terrorism, and financing terrorism.
The defendants were accused of serving as recruiters and leaders for the Ansaru sect, a Boko Haram breakaway organization that has been connected to a number of high-profile attacks in Nigeria.
They allegedly traveled regularly between the Kogi, Katsina, and Niger States, worked under fictitious names, and kept in touch with international terrorist trainers in the Sahel.
The DSS said that a multi-agency operation including local security partners and tactical intelligence teams led to their detention.
The hearing is scheduled to resume on November 19, when the DSS lawyer is likely to introduce witnesses and provide evidence against the defendants, after Tuesday’s adjournment.
As the court gets ready to move forward with the next stage of the trial, both defendants are currently being held in the DSS facility in Abuja.
