Two alleged commanders of the terrorist group Ansaru, 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 related offences.
The defendants, also known as Mahmud Al-Nigeri and Abu Baraa, admitted to charges that include coordinating sleeper cells, planning terrorist attacks, and maintaining operational links with extremist groups across the Sahel and Maghreb regions.
They changed their pleas from not guilty to guilty during proceedings before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja.
The court recalled that at the previous sitting, both defendants had indicated their intention to change their pleas.
At their initial arraignment, Mahmud Usman pleaded guilty to a single count of illegal mining to finance terrorism and procure arms. He was subsequently convicted and sentenced to 15 years imprisonment on that count but pleaded not guilty to the remaining 31 charges.
Abubakar Abba had earlier pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
However, when the matter came up for hearing, both men were re-arraigned and entered guilty pleas to all 32 counts.
Following the development, prosecuting counsel, David Kwase, urged the court to immediately convict the defendants on all counts in accordance with Section 274(2) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015.
Responding, counsel to the defendants acknowledged that the guilty pleas were made voluntarily and urged the court to consider the change of plea as a demonstration of genuine remorse and repentance while determining an appropriate sentence.
