Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Abuja, has fixed January 15, 2026, for the commencement of the trial of two leaders of the Ansaru terrorist group, Mahmud Usman and Abubakar Abba.
Usman and Abba were captured by the Department of State Services (DSS).
The trial, which was initially slated to begin on Wednesday, was put off by the trial judge, following pleas by their counsel for time to enable him to be served with the charges, and to study the charges’ proof of evidence.
At the day’s proceedings, counsel for the accused persons, B. I Bakum told the court that the charge and proof of evidence were still with the DSS, where the terror suspects were being detained on the orders of the court.
The lawyer prayed the court that the two defendants be moved to a correctional centre to enable easy access and ensure a prompt and hitch-free trial.
However, counsel for the DSS, David Kaswe, opposed the defendants’ lawyer’s prayer.
Kasawe, an Assistant Director in the Federal Ministry of Justice, prayed the court to begin the trial as scheduled since, according to him, NAIJAONPOINT es were in court.