The Federal High Court on Wednesday again adjourned the trial of nine men accused of orchestrating the 2025 massacre of residents of Yelwata community in Benue State, after counsel for two defendants sought more time to familiarise himself with the case.
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik postponed proceedings when Y.A. Hassan, appearing for the eighth and ninth defendants Sale Mohammed and Bako Jibrin told the court it was his first appearance and that he had not yet seen or reviewed the charges.
“I have not even seen the charges,” he told the court, insisting he was not ready to proceed.
The Federal Government had arraigned the nine suspects on February 2 over the June 13, 2025 attack in Guma Local Government Area, where about 150 people were reportedly killed.
The prosecution, led by the Attorney-General of the Federation Lateef Fagbemi, filed a 57-count amended terrorism charge under the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
Other defendants are Ardo Lawal Mohammed Dono, Ardo Muhammadu Saidu, Alhaji Haruna Abdullahi, Yakubu Adamu, Musa Mohammed, Abubakar Adamu and Shaibu Ibrahim.
Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, Rotimi Oyedepo, who represented the prosecution, did not oppose the adjournment but suggested that the court could at least take the evidence-in-chief of the prosecution witness.
He, however, urged the court to grant only a short extension if it agreed to the request.
Justice Abdulmalik cautioned the defence, stressing that counsel should obtain case files from previous lawyers instead of relying on the prosecution.
“You are supposed to take the charge from the previous lawyer. It is not the duty of the prosecution to keep furnishing the charges,” she said, warning that counsel must make necessary enquiries before accepting briefs to avoid wasting the court’s time.
She emphasised the public importance of the case and warned that the court would no longer tolerate unnecessary delays.
The matter was adjourned to March 9 and 10 for continuation of trial.
The defendants, who pleaded not guilty during arraignment, were earlier remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre.
Trial dates initially set for February 26 and 27 were stalled after the previous counsel for the eighth and ninth defendants withdrew, prompting the court to adjourn to March 4 to allow them resolve legal representation.
