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Ansaru Terror Case Stuck After DSS Refuses Lawyer Access.
Proceedings in the trial of two alleged senior members of the Ansaru terrorist group were on Thursday halted at the Federal High Court in Abuja after defence counsel complained of being denied access to his clients in custody.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The matter came up for hearing before Justice Emeka Nwite, but counsel to the defendants, Bala Dakum, informed the court that he was unable to proceed because operatives of the Department of State Security had refused him access to the accused persons, Mahmud Usman and Abubakar Abba.
Dakum told the court that he assumed responsibility for the defence in October 2025 but had not been allowed to meet the defendants since then, noting that he was unfamiliar with them and had only reviewed the charges filed against them.
He urged the court to order that the defendants be transferred to a correctional facility where he could consult with them properly, stressing that meaningful legal representation was impossible without access.
The defendants were arrested by security agencies in August 2025 and arraigned the following month on a 32-count charge bordering on terrorism, illegal mining and violent attacks allegedly committed between 2013 and 2015. At their arraignment, Usman pleaded guilty to one count and was sentenced to 15 years’ imprisonment, while Abba pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
In response, prosecuting counsel, David Kaswe, said he was prepared to open the prosecution’s case and call the first witness. However, he explained that access to detainees at the DSS facility had been restricted due to ongoing renovation works aimed at upgrading the detention centre to meet international standards.
Kaswe apologised for the delay and applied for an adjournment, stating that access would remain limited until the renovation was completed.
Justice Nwite expressed dissatisfaction with the situation, noting that the case had been scheduled specifically for trial and that he had adjusted his schedule to preside over the matter.
When asked about the duration of the renovation, a DSS officer informed the court that the work might be completed by March or April, though no definite timeline could be provided.
Kaswe later indicated that the prosecution would not oppose transferring the defendants to a correctional facility if their lawyers were still unable to gain access to them before the next hearing.
Dakum, however, maintained that the defendants should be granted access not only to their legal representatives but also to their family members, pointing out that Usman has 19 children.
Justice Nwite subsequently adjourned the case until March 16 for the commencement of trial, as concerns continue to mount over delays in terrorism-related prosecutions, particularly issues surrounding detainee access and fair trial guarantees.
The 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) began nationwide on Thursday, with over 2.2 million candidates expected to participate across accredited centres.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The exam, conducted by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), will run from April 16 to April 22 in multiple daily sessions.
JAMB Registrar, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, urged examination officials to remain highly committed and professional, noting that the success of the exercise depends largely on their dedication.
He gave the charge during a virtual final briefing for technical officers ahead of the examination, where he also praised staff, ad hoc personnel, service providers, and technical advisers for their roles in the successful conduct of the mock exam.
Oloyede said many of the issues recorded during the mock exercise were due to poor assessment of centres by some technical officials.
He further stated that incentive packages would be awarded to teams that perform exceptionally, particularly in handling exam materials and submitting timely reports.
Reiterating JAMB’s zero-tolerance stance on malpractice, he warned candidates against bringing prohibited items into examination halls.
He also disclosed that biometric verification and real-time monitoring systems have been deployed to protect the integrity of the exercise.
Candidates whose biometrics cannot be verified, he added, will be rescheduled to write the exam at approved centres.
Meanwhile, a NAN correspondent monitoring proceedings at Aduvie International School, Jahi, reported that the first session scheduled for 8:30 a.m. began slightly behind schedule at about 8:40 a.m.
The Commissioner of Police for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), CP Ahmed Muhammed Sanusi, on Thursday inspected security deployments at Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres across Abuja.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
According to the FCT Police Command spokesperson, SP Josephine Adeh, the inspection is part of proactive measures to ensure a smooth, peaceful, and hitch-free conduct of the ongoing examinations.
The UTME is scheduled to run nationwide from April 16 to 18, 2026.
During the exercise, CP Sanusi assessed security arrangements put in place to safeguard candidates, examination officials, and CBT facilities.
He also engaged with centre supervisors, assuring them of adequate security presence throughout the examination period.
Adeh added that the CP reaffirmed the command’s commitment to maintaining law and order, warning that any attempt to disrupt the examinations would be met with decisive action in line with the law.
Over 700 former terrorists who have undergone deradicalisation and rehabilitation are set to be reintegrated into their communities.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The Nigerian military has also dismissed reports alleging that beneficiaries of Operation Safe Corridor are being recruited into military institutions.
According to African Independent Television, the Coordinator of Operation Safe Corridor, Brigadier-General Yusuf Ali, made this known during a media tour of the Deradicalisation, Rehabilitation and Reintegration Centre in Gombe, North-East Nigeria.
He said many Nigerians still misunderstand the Federal Government’s structured counter-terrorism initiative, which is designed to restore peace in communities affected by insurgency.
Brigadier-General Ali explained that the programme focuses on rehabilitation and peaceful reintegration of repentant individuals into society.
During the tour, some of the participants also shared accounts of their involvement in offences that led to their admission into the programme.
The facility inspection was part of preparations for the graduation of over 700 clients who have completed the deradicalisation and rehabilitation process and are set for reintegration.
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