Trending 
Five suspected members of the Ansaru terrorist group will be re-arraigned by the Department of State Services (DSS) in connection with their alleged involvement in the May 15 abduction of school pupils and teachers in the Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.
The suspects are expected to appear before Justice Salim Ibrahim on Thursday on six amended charges.
The charge, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/438/2026, was filed by the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN.
The suspects are Mahmud Muhammad, also known as Abu Bara’a or Abbas Mukhtar; Abubakar Abbas, also known as Isah Adam or Mahmuda Al-Nigeri; Abdulrazak Umar, also known as Abu Khalifa or Abu Khalid; Yunusa Musa, also known as Abu Yunusa Bin Musa; and Shamsu Sani, also known as Abu Itisar.
The five are accused of belonging to Jama’atu Ansarul Muslimina fi-Biladis Sudan, also known as Ansaru.
They were initially scheduled for re-arraignment on Wednesday, but the proceedings were adjourned until Thursday after the defendants requested representation by lawyers of their choice.
During Wednesday’s proceedings, Akilaluyel Shettima, a Deputy Director of the Legal Aid Council, announced he would appear for the five defendants. However, the first defendant, Mahmud Muhammad, objected to the arrangement.
Speaking on behalf of the defendants, Muhammad told Justice Ibrahim that they had previously been represented by lawyer Bala Dakum and wanted him to continue as their counsel.
Oyedepo agreed, saying the defendants’ right to choose their legal representation was constitutionally protected.
He said the DSS is committed to upholding the law and seeking justice, not persecuting the defendants.
Justice Ibrahim subsequently adjourned the case until September 17 for re-arraignment and directed the defendants to contact their lawyer and appear in court on the adjourned date.
The judge also ordered the DSS to ensure the suspects had access to legal counsel to prepare their defence, in accordance with the law.
The suspects are being prosecuted over the May 15 attack in Oriire, during which terrorists reportedly abducted more than 46 people, including the principal of one of the affected schools, Folawe Alamu.
Two of the abducted teachers were later killed by their captors.
