Two alleged commanders of the terrorist group Ansaru have pleaded guilty to terrorism, kidnapping for ransom, illegal mining, terrorism financing and the manufacture of Improvised Explosive Devices before the Federal High Court in Abuja.
The defendants, Mahmud Usman, also known as Mahmud Al-Nigeri, and Abubakar Abba, alias Abu Baraa, admitted guilt to a 32-count charge after reversing their earlier not-guilty pleas.
The suspects appeared before Justice Emeka Nwite on Monday, where they formally admitted to the offences after previously notifying the court of their intention to change their pleas.
The Federal Government accused the duo of coordinating Ansaru sleeper cells, plotting terrorist attacks and maintaining operational links with terrorist organisations across the Sahel and Maghreb regions.
According to the prosecution, the defendants also engaged in kidnapping for ransom, illegal mining to generate funds for terrorism, procurement of arms and the manufacture of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) to support insurgent activities in Nigeria.
Mahmud had earlier been convicted on one count of illegal mining for the purpose of financing terrorism and procuring arms. He was sentenced to 15 yearsâ imprisonment after pleading guilty to that charge while denying the remaining 31 counts.
Abubakar, on the other hand, had initially pleaded not guilty to all the charges before both defendants eventually admitted guilt to the outstanding counts during Mondayâs proceedings.
Following the guilty pleas, prosecuting counsel, David Kwase, urged the court to convict the defendants in accordance with Section 274(2) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015, which empowers a court to convict an accused person who voluntarily pleads guilty.
Defence counsel, however, appealed to the court to temper justice with mercy, arguing that the defendantsâ decision to admit guilt reflected remorse and repentance. The lawyer urged the court to consider the change of plea as a mitigating factor during sentencing.
Justice Nwite subsequently adjourned the matter for judgment and sentencing on the remaining counts.
The case is one of the Federal Governmentâs ongoing prosecutions targeting members of Ansaru, a terrorist group linked to violent attacks, kidnappings and terrorism financing across parts of northern Nigeria.
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