The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the Department of State Services, DSS, to grant five suspected members of the Ansaru terrorist group access to their preferred lawyer ahead of their re-arraignment on Thursday.
Justice Saliu Ibrahim gave the directive after the first defendant, Mahmud Muhammad, objected to being represented by counsel from the Legal Aid Council.
The five suspects had been scheduled for arraignment on Wednesday, but proceedings could not continue after Muhammad told the court that they had previously engaged lawyer Bala Dakum and wanted him to remain their counsel.
“We had been represented by Bala Dakum as our lawyer before, and we would want him to continue to defend us,” Muhammad said.
A Deputy Director of the Legal Aid Council, Akilaluyel Shettima, had earlier announced his appearance for the defendants.
Following the objection, the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, Rotimi Oyedepo, acknowledged that the defendants had a constitutional right to counsel of their choice.
Oyedepo also told the court that the DSS was a law-abiding institution and was not seeking to persecute the defendants but to ensure that justice was served.
Justice Ibrahim subsequently adjourned proceedings until Thursday and directed the suspects to contact Dakum and ensure that he appears in court for the re-arraignment.
The judge further ordered the DSS to facilitate access between the suspects and their lawyer so they could adequately prepare their defence in accordance with the law.
The defendants are facing a six-count amended charge filed by Oyedepo on behalf of the Federal Government. The case is marked FHC/ABJ/CR/438/2026.
The suspects are Mahmud Muhammad, also known as Abu Bara’a and Abbas Mukhtar; Abubakar Abbas, aka Isah Adam and Mallam Mahmuda Al-Nigeri; Abdulrazak Umar, aka Abu Khalifa and Abu Khalid; Yunusa Musa, aka Abu Yunusa Bin Musa; and Shamsu Adamu Sani, aka Abu Itisar.
The Federal Government alleges that the five were involved in the May 15 abduction of pupils and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.
They are also accused of involvement in the subsequent killing of two of the abducted victims.
The amended charge was brought after the suspects’ earlier arraignment was disrupted by the dispute over legal representation.
They are expected back before Justice Ibrahim on Thursday for the re-arraignment on the six-count charge.
The allegations against the defendants remain subject to determination by the court.
