The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has postponed the trial of the two Ansaru leaders, Mahmud Usman and Abubakar Abba, captured by the Department of State Services (DSS), which will begin on January 15, 2026.
The trial was initially scheduled to commence on Wednesday, 19 November, 2025, but the presiding judge, Justice Emeka Nwite, shifted the trial date, following pleas by Bala Dakum, the counsel of the defendants, for more time to be served with the charges as well as study the proof of evidence.
He also called for the defendants to be transferred to a correctional facility to allow easy access and ensure a swift and hitch-free trial.
David Kaswe, the counsel to the DSS, opposed Dakum’s application, urging the court to commence the trial because the witnesses were present in court.
Kaswe noted that protocol in the DSS required the defendants’ lawyer to inform the agency via writing for permission to view his clients and copy him, adding that the lawyer failed to do so.
Kaswe also pleaded with Justice Nwite to order the defendant's lawyer to always observe the protocol of the DSS by formally writing for permission to visit the defendants and also copy him so he could assist with the process.
In his brief ruling, Justice Nwite said he would consider the submission of the lawyer to the defendants and move the trial date to January 15, 2026, for the sake of a fair hearing.
He further ordered Dakum to always inform the DSS via writing for permission to see his clients and also copy the prosecutor.
The defendants are facing terrorism charges filed by the DSS. Usman, also known as Abu Bara’a, had earlier pleaded guilty to count 10 of a 32-count charge, bordering on economic crime, while Abba, popularly known as Mahmud Al-Nigeri or Isah Adam/Mallam Mamuda, Usman’s deputy, pleaded not guilty to all 32 counts charge.
Usman was sentenced on September 11 to 15 years in prison after admitting to the court his involvement in illegal mining activities where the proceeds were used to acquire arms to aid in his terrorist and kidnapping activities.
At the arraignment, Mohammed Babadoko Abubakar, the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation, stated that Usman from Okene Local Government Area (LGA) of Kogi State and Abba from Daura LGA of Katsina State allegedly committed the 32-count charges filed against them from 2013 to 2024.
The duo is accused of bombing Wawa Military Cantonment in Borgu Local Government Area (LGA) of Niger State in 2022, receiving weapon training, and fabricating Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs).
The DSS also claimed they belong to foreign terror groups and were also trained in war tactics by terrorist organizations in Mali and Sudan and further trained their followers.
In another charge, the defendants are accused of kidnapping a Customs officer and an Immigration officer, adding that they collected ransoms before being captured by the DSS.
After their not guilty plea, Justice Nwite ordered they be remanded at the DSS facility in Abuja until the conclusion of their trial.
Ansaru is a breakaway faction of the Boko Haram terrorist group, which has been linked to several high-profile attacks and kidnappings in Nigeria.