TWO suspected senior commanders of the Ansaru terrorist group facing terrorism charges before the Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday changed their plea to guilty on a 32-count charge after months of trial proceedings.
News Point Nigeria reports that the suspects, identified as Mahmud Usman, also known as Abu Bara’a, Abbas and Mukhtar, and Abubakar Abba, alias Mahmud al-Nigeri and Malam Mamuda, are standing trial over allegations bordering on terrorism-related offences.
Usman is described as the self-styled Emir of Ansaru, while Abba is alleged to be his deputy and chief of staff.
The defendants entered their guilty pleas before Justice Emeka Nwite shortly after their counsel, Bala Dakum, informed the court that the pair had, after consultations, decided to change their earlier pleas.
Dakum subsequently requested that the charge be read afresh to enable the defendants formally enter their new pleas before the court.
Counsel to the Department of State Services (DSS), David Kaswe, did not oppose the application and agreed that the charges should be read again to the defendants.
It was gathered that the two suspected commanders were initially arraigned by the DSS on September 11, 2025, following their arrest on allegations linked to terrorism activities.
At the time of their arraignment, both men had pleaded not guilty to the charges brought against them.
However, during the earlier stages of the trial, Usman admitted guilt to count 10 of the 32-count charge, which bordered on illegal mining allegedly carried out to finance terrorism and procure arms.
Following his guilty plea to that count, the court sentenced him to 15 years’ imprisonment.
Despite the conviction on count 10, Usman had maintained his innocence on the remaining 31 counts, while Abba had denied all the charges.
Monday’s proceedings marked a dramatic turn in the case as both defendants formally changed their pleas and admitted guilt to the terrorism charges after months of legal proceedings.
