By Nchetachi Chukwuajah
Nine suspects accused of involvement in the Yelwata attack in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State pleaded not guilty to a 57-count amended charge bordering on terrorism before the Federal High Court in Abuja.
The suspects were arraigned before Justice Joyce Abdul-Malik on Monday, February 2, following the withdrawal of charges against the sixth defendant, Yakubu Mamman, by the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Lateef Fagbemi (SAN).
In a statement on Sunday, February 1, the Office of the AGF said the suspects who were “strongly linked to the killings in Yelwata” would be arraigned on Monday following “painstaking investigation and collaboration by government agencies.”
During the court proceedings on Monday, the AGF appeared in person for the complainant alongside the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN).
Ibrahim Angulu (SAN), Christiana Sylvester, and Aminu Abubakar Bagudu represented the 1st, 8th, and 9th defendants while A.I. Kaura held brief for the 2nd defendant. Adamu Abdullahi appeared for the 3rd, 4th, 5th, 7th, and 10th defendants.
Fagbemi informed the court that the prosecution had filed a 57-count amended charge dated January 19, 2026, and filed on January 20, 2026, against 10 defendants.
He said the prosecution was withdrawing the charge against the sixth defendant and also applied to withdraw the earlier eight-count charge dated September 9, 2025.
Justice Abdul-Malik struck out the name of the sixth defendant and withdrew the earlier charge, as the defence did not object to the amendment.
With the amendment, the remaining nine defendants are Ardo Lawal Mohammed, Muhammadu Saidu, Alhaji Haruna Abdullahi, Yakubu Adamu, Muhammed Musa, Abubakar Adamu, Shaibu Ibrahim, Saleh Mohammed and Bako Jibrin.
Following an application by the prosecution, the court ordered that the amended charge be read to the defendants and their pleas taken with the aid of an interpreter.
The defendants were, in count one of the charge, accused of knowingly participating in meetings between May and June 2025 in Nasarawa State to plan an attack on the Yelwata community in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State.
The defendants pleaded not guilty to all 57 counts.
Fagbemi told the court that by virtue of Section 273 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), the defendants, by their pleas, had invoked the court’s jurisdiction for trial and applied for an accelerated hearing.
He also asked that the defendants be remanded in a correctional facility pending trial and that a trial date be fixed.
An oral bail application was made by Ibrahim Angulu, but the judge directed the defence to file a proper application in response to an amended motion on notice by the prosecution. Counsel subsequently sought a short date to move the bail application.
The prosecution informed the court that it intended to call eight witnesses during the trial.
The matter was adjourned till February 26 and 27 for the commencement of trial, while Justice Abdul-Malik ordered that the defendants be remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre pending trial.
