The trial of top Ansaru commanders, Mahmud Usman and Abubakar Abba, has been postponed to March 16 after their lawyer raised concerns about being denied contact with his clients ahead of the proceedings.
The Federal High Court, Abuja Division, had scheduled the case for the prosecution to open its case on Thursday, but defence counsel, Bala Dakum, informed Justice Emeka Nwite that he had not been able to meet with the defendants since taking over the case in October 2025.
He requested that the suspects be temporarily transferred to a correctional facility to allow proper preparation.
SSS counsel, David Kaswe explained that the defendants are being held at a facility undergoing upgrades to meet international standards, which currently restricts access. Justice Nwite, while expressing frustration over the repeated delays, granted the adjournment to March 16, noting the prosecution’s commitment to facilitate access if necessary.
Usman, also known as Abu Bara’a or Abbas Mukhtar, had previously pleaded guilty to one count of illegal mining and was sentenced to 15 years. Abubakar Abba, also called Isah Adam or Mahmud Al-Nigeria, has pleaded not guilty to all 32 counts.
Both men, senior commanders of the Al-Qaeda-affiliated group Jama’atu Ansarul Muslimeena Fii Bilaadis Sudan (JAMBS/Ansaru), face charges including illegal arms and explosives training, conspiracy to commit terrorism and participation in the 2022 attack on Wawa Cantonment in Niger State, which resulted in multiple casualties.
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