Justice Joyce Abdul-Malik of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Monday ordered that defendants accused in the Benue killings be remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre pending the start of their trial.
The ruling came during proceedings in the criminal case marked FHC/ABJ/CR/471/2025, where the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, personally led the prosecution on behalf of the Federal Government.
Fagbemi appeared alongside the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, and three other lawyers.
During the session, the Attorney-General informed the court that a 57-count amended charge had been filed against 10 defendants.
He requested that the name of the 6th defendant, Yakubu Maman, be struck out and sought the withdrawal of the earlier charge, leaving only the amended charge for the court’s consideration. The defendants’ counsel did not object.General
In a brief ruling, Justice Abdul-Malik struck out the earlier charge and ordered the removal of Yakubu Maman’s name, as requested by the prosecution.
Following this, the Attorney- applied to have the remaining defendants enter their pleas. When the amended charge was read to them, all the defendants pleaded not guilty.
The trial was adjourned to February 26 and 27, 2026, with the judge ordering that the accused be remanded at Kuje Correctional Centre pending the determination of the case.
Legal representation included Ibrahim Angulu, SAN, for the 1st, 8th, and 9th defendants, while Adamu Abdullahi appeared for the 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 7th defendants.
According to the amended charge, the defendants, Ardo Lawal Mohammed Dono, Ardo Muhammadu Saidu, Alhaji Haruna Abdullahi, Yakubu Adamu, Mohammed Musa, Abubakar Adamu, Shuaibu Ibrahim, Isah Yusufa Nagogo, Sale Mohammed, and Bako Jibrin, among others still at large—allegedly met in Nasarawa State between May and June 2025 to plan and coordinate the attack.
Count One of the 57-count terrorism charge stated, “That You, Ardo Lawal Mohammed Dono ‘M’, Ardo Muhammadu Saidu ‘M’, Alhaji Haruna Abdullahi ‘M’, Yakubu Adamu ‘M’, Mohammed Musa ‘M’, Yakubu Mamah ‘M’, Abubakar Adamu ‘M’, Shuaibu Ibrahim ‘M’, Isah Yusufa Nagogo ‘M’, Sale Mohammed ‘M’, Bako Jibrin ‘M’, and others still at large, sometime between May and June 2025 in Nasarawa State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, knowingly and directly participated in meetings in connection with the commission of an act of terrorism, to wit: to plan an attack on Yelwata Community in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State, the attack which was subsequently carried out on the 13th day of June 2025 and resulted in the burning of houses, grievous bodily harm, and the death of approximately one hundred and fifty (150) persons. You thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 12(a) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022 and punishable under the same section.”
Another read, “That You, Ardo Lawal Mohammed Dono ‘M’, Muhammadu Saidu ‘M’, Alhaji Haruna Abdullahi ‘M’, Yakubu Adamu ‘M’, Mohammed Musa ‘M’, Yakubu Mamah ‘M’, Abubakar Adamu ‘M’, Shuaibu Ibrahim ‘M’, Isah Yusufa Nagoggo ‘M’, Sale Mohammed ‘M’, Bako Jibrin ‘M’, and others still at large, sometime between May and June 2025 in Nasarawa State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, conspired among yourselves to plan an attack on Yelwata Community in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State, the attack which was subsequently carried out on the 13th day of June 2025, and resulted in the burning of houses, grievous bodily harm, and the death of approximately one hundred and fifty (150) persons in Yelwata. You thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 26(1) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022 and punishable under Section 12 of the same Act.”
The Federal Government is set to proceed with the full trial when the matter resumes later this month.
