The Department of State Services (DSS) will on Thursday, September 17, re-arraign five men accused of involvement in the May 15 abduction of pupils and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.
The suspects are also accused of complicity in the subsequent killing of two of the victims. They are to be arraigned on a six-count amended charge, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/438/2026, filed by the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation (DPPF), Rotimi Oyedepo, on behalf of the Federal Government.
The accused are identified as alleged members of Jama’atu Ansarul Muslimina fi-Biladis Sudan (ANSARU), a terrorist group. They 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 and Abu Khalid; Yunusa Musa, also known as Abu Yunusa Bin Musa; and Shamsu Adamu Sani, also known as Abu Itisar.
The suspects were initially scheduled to be arraigned on Wednesday, September 16. The proceedings, however, were postponed after they insisted on being represented by a lawyer of their choice.
At the aborted proceedings, Barrister Akilaluyel Shettima, a Deputy Director at the Legal Aid Council, announced his appearance for the five accused. Muhammad, the first defendant, objected to the arrangement.
Speaking on behalf of the others, Muhammad told Justice Salim Ibrahim that they had previously been represented by a lawyer identified as Bala Dakum and wanted him to continue handling their case.
Oyedepo conceded that the choice of legal representation is a constitutional right that should be respected. He said the DSS was a law-abiding institution focused on ensuring justice rather than persecuting the accused.
Justice Ibrahim subsequently adjourned the matter to September 17 for the re-arraignment and directed the defendants to ensure that their lawyer is present in court.
The judge also ordered the DSS to allow the accused access to their lawyer so they can prepare their defence as required by law.
