The Federal Government will on Thursday, September 17, 2026, re-arraign five men accused of involvement in the May 15 abduction of pupils and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State and the subsequent killing of two of the victims.
The defendants are to be brought before Justice Salim Ibrahim of the Federal High Court in Abuja on an amended six-count charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/438/2026.
The prosecution, being conducted on behalf of the Federal Government by the State Security Service (SSS), alleges that the five defendants are members of Jama’atu Ansarul Muslimina fi-Biladis Sudan (ANSARU), a proscribed terrorist organisation.
Those charged are Mahmud Muhammad, also known as Abu Bara’a and Abbas Mukhtar; Abubakar Abbas, also known as Isah Adam and Mallam Mahmuda Al-Nigeri; Abdulrazak Umar, also known as Abu Khalifa or Abu Khalid; Yunusa Musa, also known as Abu Yunusa Bin Musa; and Shamsu Adamu Sani, also known as Abu Itisar.
The amended charge is linked to the abduction of pupils and teachers in Oriire LGA on May 15, 2026, as well as the alleged killing of two of those abducted.
The defendants were initially scheduled to be arraigned on Wednesday, September 16, but proceedings could not go ahead after they insisted on being represented by a lawyer of their choice.
At Wednesday’s proceedings, Mr Akilaluyel Shettima, a Deputy Director with the Legal Aid Council, announced appearance for the five defendants.
However, the first defendant, Mahmud Muhammad, speaking on behalf of the others, objected to the representation and informed the court that they had previously been represented by one Bala Dakum and wanted him to continue as their counsel.
Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, Mr Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, who appeared for the Federal Government, conceded that the defendants’ choice of counsel was a constitutional right which should be respected.
Oyedepo told the court that the SSS was interested in the proper administration of justice rather than the persecution of the defendants.
Following the objection, Justice Ibrahim adjourned the fresh arraignment until Thursday, September 17, and directed the defendants to contact their preferred lawyer so that he could appear for them.
The judge also ordered the SSS to grant the defendants access to their lawyer to enable them to prepare their defence in accordance with the law.
The five defendants have not yet taken pleas to the amended charge, and the allegations against them remain unproven unless and until established before the court.