Two suspected commanders of the Ansaru terrorist group, Mahmud Usman and Abubakar Abba, have pleaded guilty to a 32-count charge bordering on terrorism financing, kidnapping for ransom, illegal mining, fabrication of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), and other terrorism-related offences before the Federal High Court in Abuja.
The defendants, also known as Mahmud Al-Nigeri and Abu Baraa, admitted to charges that included coordinating sleeper cells, planning terrorist attacks, maintaining links with terrorist groups operating across the Sahel and Maghreb regions, and funding terrorist activities.
The duo changed their plea from not guilty to guilty before Justice Emeka Nwite after informing the court at the previous adjourned sitting of their intention to do so.
During their initial arraignment, Mahmud Usman had pleaded guilty to a single count of illegal mining used to finance terrorism and procure arms. He was subsequently convicted and sentenced to 15 years imprisonment on that count, while pleading not guilty to the remaining 31 charges.
His co-defendant, Abubakar Abba, had earlier pleaded not guilty to all the charges filed against him.
However, at Monday’s proceedings, both defendants were re-arraigned and entered guilty pleas to all the charges against them.
Following their admission of guilt, prosecuting counsel, David Kwase, urged the court to immediately convict the defendants on all 32 counts in accordance with Section 274(2) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015.
Counsel to the defendants, while acknowledging the unequivocal guilty pleas, appealed to the court to consider the change of plea as a demonstration of remorse and repentance by the defendants.
Justice Nwite is expected to deliver the appropriate ruling on the matter in accordance with the law.
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