Two commanders of the terrorist group Ansaru, Mahmud Usman and Abubakar Abba, on Monday, 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, changed their pleas from not guilty to guilty before Justice Emeka Nwite during a fresh arraignment.
The charges against the duo include coordinating sleeper cells, planning terrorist attacks, maintaining links with terrorist organisations operating across the Sahel and Maghreb regions, financing terrorism, and engaging in illegal mining to support terrorist activities.
At the previous adjourned hearing, the defendants had informed the court of their intention to change their pleas.
During the initial arraignment, Usman admitted guilt to one count of illegal mining for the purpose of financing terrorism and procuring arms. He was convicted on that count and sentenced to 15 years’ imprisonment but denied the remaining 31 counts.
Abba, however, had pleaded not guilty to all the charges at the time.
When the matter came up on Monday, both men were re-arraigned and formally pleaded guilty to all 32 counts contained in the amended charge.
Following their guilty pleas, prosecuting counsel, David Kwase, urged the court to convict the defendants on all the counts in accordance with Section 274(2) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015, arguing that the law empowers the court to enter conviction once an accused person voluntarily admits guilt.
Counsel to the defendants did not oppose the application but appealed to the court to consider the circumstances surrounding the change of plea.
He submitted that the defendants’ decision to admit the charges was a demonstration of genuine remorse and repentance, urging the court to take that into account in determining an appropriate sentence.
