Yelwata Attack Trial: Defendants' Confessions Voluntary

Nine defendants, including Ardo Lawal and Moham Dono, are standing trial for their alleged involvement in the Yelwata attack, facing 57 counts of terrorism. The trial commenced with a witness, Chief Superintendent Mose Paul, testifying in the Federal High Court in Abuja that the defendants made confessional statements voluntarily and without coercion.

The defendants, who pleaded not guilty, were arraigned on February 2, 2026. During the proceedings, it was noted that one defendant suffered a partial stroke due to alleged police brutality.

The court was informed that a storage device containing video evidence of the confessions became corrupt, leading to an adjournment of the trial until March 24, 2026, to allow for retrieval of the footage. Justice Joyc Abdullahi cautioned the prosecution regarding delays, emphasizing the defense's readiness for cross-examination.