Court Adjourns Trial of Ansaru Terror Commander, Mahmud Usman, to November 19

The Federal High Court in Abuja has postponed the trial of Mahmud Usman, the detained commander of the Ansaru terrorist group, to November 19, 2025.

Ansaru, a breakaway faction of Boko Haram, has been linked to multiple high-profile terrorist attacks and kidnappings across Nigeria.

Usman, also known as Abu Bara’a, is standing trial alongside his alleged deputy, Abubakar Abba, popularly called Mahmud Al-Nigeri or Isah Adam/Mallam Mamuda, on a 32-count charge filed by the Federal Government.

According to the charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/464/2025, both men were arrested between May and July 2025 following intelligence-led security operations. The prosecution alleged that the duo masterminded several acts of terrorism and collected millions of naira in ransom from the families of kidnapped victims.

The Federal Government further accused Usman, from Okene Local Government Area of Kogi State, and Al-Nigeri, from Daura, Katsina State, of aiding and abetting terrorist attacks across the country between 2013 and 2015.

The defendants allegedly served as senior commanders of Jama’atu Ansarul Muslimeena Fii Bilaadis Sudan (JAMBS/Ansaru), a proscribed organisation with links to the Al-Qaeda terrorist network.

They were also accused of receiving training in weapons handling, IED fabrication, and military tactics from the Mali-based terrorist group Jama’atu Nusratil Islami Wal Muslimin (JNIM).

In addition, the prosecution claimed that the accused participated in the 2022 attack on Wawa Cantonment of the Nigerian Army in New Bussa, Niger State, which resulted in numerous casualties.

Described by authorities as the “coordinator of terrorist sleeper cells across Nigeria,” Usman is also accused of masterminding several high-profile kidnappings and armed robberies used to finance terrorist activities.

The National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, had announced their arrest on August 16, noting that both suspects had long been listed on national and international terror watchlists.

At Tuesday’s hearing, the prosecution counsel representing the Department of State Services (DSS), Mohammed Abubakar, informed the court via a letter that he would be unavailable, and requested an adjournment. The defence did not oppose the application.

Justice Emeka Nwite consequently adjourned further proceedings to November 19.

It will be recalled that on September 11, Usman was sentenced to 15 years in prison after pleading guilty to one of the charges — illegal mining and using the proceeds to purchase arms for terrorist operations.

While he admitted to the mining-related offence, Usman denied other terrorism charges. His co-defendant, Abubakar Abba, however, pleaded not guilty to all counts.

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