The defendants, named as Mahmud Muhammad, aka Abu Bara’a or Abbas Mukhtar; Abubakar Abbas, aka Isah Adam or Mallam Mahmuda Al-Nigeri; Abdulrazak Umar, aka Abu Khalifa or Abu Khalid; Yunusa Musa, aka Abu Yunusa Bin Musa; and Shamsu Adamu Sani, aka Abu Itisar, were re-arraigned on a seven-count amended charge filed as FHC/ABJ/CR/438/2026.
The charges, brought by the Department of State Services through the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, allege a range of terrorism offences. They include conspiracy to kidnap roughly 46 people, aiding the abduction of schoolchildren and teachers, concealing information about an imminent attack, and causing the deaths of two named victims, Michael Oyedokun and Deacon John Olaleye. One count accuses two of the defendants of ordering others to kidnap and kill in the event of their arrest, an allegation the prosecution links to the May 15, 2026 abductions from Community Grammar School, Baptist Nursery/Primary School and L.A. Primary School in Oriire.
The prosecution, led by Rotimi Oyedepo SAN, asked the court to commence trial immediately under the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015. Oyedepo also sought and secured an order to protect the identities of prosecution witnesses and to permit them to give evidence while masked, citing their safety. Counsel for the defendants, Bala Dakum, did not oppose the application, and Justice Salim Ibrahim granted it.
The charge sheet also names three other alleged co-conspirators, Muhammed Sani, Jibril Mohammed and Ibrahim Khabab, described as still at large, and identifies three of the re-arraigned men as having allegedly aided the abductions. After pleas of not guilty to all seven counts, the court set the matter for continuation of hearing on Friday, September 18, with arrangements under way for a full trial.
