FG Re-arraigns Ansaru Commanders Over Kidnapping Charges

The federal government re-arraigned two convicted Ansaru terror commanders, Mahmud Usman Muhammad a.k.a Abu Bara’a/Abbas Mukhtar and Abubakar Abbas a.k.a Isah Adam/Mahmud al-Nigeri/Malam Mamuda, along with three others, before Justice Salim Ibrahim of the Federal High Court in Abuja. This re-arraignment occurred on a fresh six-count criminal charge related to terrorism, following their previous life sentences for kidnapping and terrorism.

The other defendants included Abdulrazak Umar (a.k.a. Abu Khalifa/Abu Khalid), Yunusa Musa (a.k.a.

Yunusa bin Musa), and Shamsu Adamu Sani (a.k.a. Abu Itisar).

The charges stem from their alleged involvement in the killings of two teachers among those abducted in Oyo State. The prosecution, led by Calistus Eze, informed the court that the amended charge was filed on July 29, and all defendants pleaded not guilty.

The court scheduled the trial to commence on September 25, allowing the defendants access to their lawyers and family members while remanding them in the custody of the DSS.