Fidelia Soriwei, Abuja
Five suspected members of Ansaru have pleaded not guilty to amended terrorism charges linked to the alleged abduction of about 46 pupils and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.
The defendants, who were re-arraigned by the Department of State Services on Thursday, appeared before the Federal High Court in Abuja on a seven-count amended charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/438/2026.
They are Mahmud Muhammad, also known as 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.
The Federal Government accused the defendants of terrorism-related offences, including conspiracy to abduct about 46 pupils and teachers, aiding the alleged school abduction, concealing information about an impending terrorist attack and causing the deaths of Michael Oyedokun and Deacon John Olaleye.
The prosecution alleged that Muhammad and Abbas directed the other three defendants, described in the charge as their “foot soldiers” in Ansaru, to kidnap and kill Nigerians if they were arrested by the government.
The alleged directive was linked by the prosecution to the abduction of pupils and teachers from Community Grammar School, Baptist Nursery/Primary School and L.A. Primary School in Oriire.
In one of the counts, the Federal Government alleged that Muhammad and Abbas caused the death of Deacon John Olaleye by decapitation sometime between 2025 and 2026 in Abuja.
The defendants were also accused of failing to provide security agencies with information about an imminent terrorist act and the planned abduction of the victims.
The prosecution further alleged that the five defendants conspired with Muhammed Sani, Jibril Mohammed, Ibrahim Khabab and others still at large to abduct the 46 victims.
Umar, Musa and Sani were separately accused of aiding the alleged abduction, while Muhammad and Abbas were accused of concealing information about the planned terrorist attack allegedly connected to the May 15, 2026 abduction and deaths of Oyedokun and Olaleye.
After the seven counts were read to them, all five defendants entered pleas of not guilty. The charges were brought under various provisions of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
The Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, who led the DSS legal team, then asked the court to commence the trial immediately in accordance with the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015.
Oyedepo also requested that prosecution witnesses be allowed to testify while wearing masks and that their identities be protected, citing security concerns. Defence counsel, Bala Dakum, did not object to the request.
Justice Salim Ibrahim granted the prosecution’s application and commenced arrangements for the substantive trial.
The court adjourned the case until Friday, September 18, for continuation of hearing.
