Nine Suspects Plead Not Guilty to 57-Count Terrorism Charge Over Yelwata Attack; Court Remands Defendants in Kuje Prison Pending Trial
Nine individuals alleged to have participated in the Yelwata attack in Benue State were on Monday arraigned before the Federal High Court, Abuja, on a 57‑count amended charge bordering on terrorism. They all entered pleas of not guilty.
The matter came up before Hon. Justice Joyce Abdul‑Malik, following the withdrawal of charges against the sixth defendant, Yakubu Mamman, by the Honourable Attorney‑General of the Federation (AGF), Lateef Fagbemi, SAN.
According to a statement issued by the Office of the AGF on Sunday, the defendants were “strongly linked to the killings in Yelwata” and were brought before the court after what was described as a painstaking investigation and inter‑agency collaboration.
The AGF personally appeared for the prosecution, alongside the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN.
On the defence side, Ibrahim Angulu, SAN, represented the 1st defendant; Christiana Sylvester appeared for the 8th defendant; Aminu Abubakar Bagudu for the 9th defendant; A.I. Kaura for the 2nd defendant; while Adamu Abdullahi held brief for the 3rd, 4th, 5th, 7th and 10th defendants.
The AGF informed the court that the prosecution had filed a 57‑count amended charge dated 19 January 2026 and filed on 20 January 2026 against ten defendants. He further applied to withdraw the charge against the sixth defendant and also sought to withdraw the earlier eight‑count charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/471/2025, dated 9 September 2025.
With no objection from the defence, Justice Abdul‑Malik struck out the name of the sixth defendant and accordingly withdrew the earlier charge.
The remaining defendants are: Ardo Lawal Mohammed, Muhammadu Saidu, Alhaji Haruna Abdullahi, Yakubu Adamu, Muhammed Musa, Abubakar Adamu, Shaibu Ibrahim, Saleh Mohammed, and Bako Jibrin.
Upon the prosecution’s application, the court ordered that the amended charge be read to the defendants, with the aid of an interpreter, and their pleas taken.
In count one, the defendants were alleged to have, between May and June 2025 in Nasarawa State, knowingly participated in meetings to plan the attack on Yelwata community in Guma LGA, Benue State. The charge stated that the attack, carried out on 13 June 2025, resulted in the burning of houses, grievous bodily harm, and the death of approximately 150 persons, an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 12(a) of the Terrorism Prevention and Prohibition Act, 2022.
All defendants pleaded not guilty to the 57 counts.
The AGF submitted that, by virtue of Section 273 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), the defendants’ pleas had invoked the jurisdiction of the court for trial. He applied for an accelerated hearing and requested that the defendants be remanded in a correctional facility pending trial.
An oral bail application was made by Ibrahim Angulu, SAN, but the court directed that a formal application be filed in response to the prosecution’s amended motion on notice. Defence counsel thereafter sought a short adjournment to move the bail application.
The prosecution disclosed its intention to call eight witnesses at trial.
The matter was adjourned to 26 and 27 February 2026 for commencement of trial, with Justice Abdul‑Malik ordering that the defendants be remanded at Kuje Correctional Centre pending trial.
