THE scheduled trial of two alleged senior Ansaru commanders, Mahmud Usman and Abubakar Abba, was stalled on Wednesday at the Federal High Court in Abuja following a dispute between the defence team and the Department of State Services (DSS) over access to the defendants.
News Point Nigeria reports that the pair, considered high-ranking figures within Ansarul Muslimina Fi Biladis Sudan (Ansaru), an Al-Qaeda-linked militant group were expected to face trial on a 32-count terrorism charge.
But the proceedings were halted almost immediately after their defence counsel, Bala Dakum, informed the court that he had not been given the necessary documents to prepare adequately for trial.
Dakum explained that the charge sheet and proof of evidence had not been served to him because the documents were still being held by the DSS, where the suspects remain in custody under court order.
He argued that without full access to his clients and the case files, proceeding with the trial would violate their right to fair hearing.
The lawyer therefore requested that the court order the transfer of Usman and Abba to a Nigerian Correctional Service facility, which he said would allow for easier communication and smoothen trial preparations.
However, DSS counsel David Kaswe opposed the request, insisting that the trial should continue because prosecution witnesses were already in court.
Kaswe argued that the defence counsel had failed to follow the established DSS access protocol, which requires lawyers to formally write to the agency and copy its counsel before seeking to meet detainees.
He maintained that Dakum’s failure to follow procedure should not hinder the court’s proceedings and urged the judge to direct the defence team to comply with DSS rules moving forward.
After hearing arguments from both sides, Justice Emeka Nwite held that the principles of fair hearing must take precedence and ruled in favour of the defence. He adjourned the trial to January 15, 2026, and directed Dakum to formally notify the DSS and copy the prosecution team whenever he seeks to meet the defendants.
The adjournment comes barely months after the same judge, on September 11, sentenced Usman also known as Abu Bara’a/Abbas Mukhtar to 15 years’ imprisonment for illegal mining of minerals such as “thunder” and “California stones” between 2015 and 2025. He pleaded guilty to one of the 32 terrorism-related counts.
Abba, also known as Isah Adam/Mahmud Al-Nigeri, denied the allegation and all other charges.
Usman and Abba were arraigned on September 4 on a far-reaching 32-count charge filed by the Director of Public Prosecutions on behalf of the Attorney-General of the Federation.
The defendants pleaded not guilty, after which the court ordered their detention in DSS custody pending commencement of the trial.