The Department of State Services (DSS) is set to re-arraign five men on Thursday, September 17, over allegations linking them to the May 15 abduction of pupils and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State and the subsequent killing of two victims.
The suspects are expected to face a six-count amended charge filed by the DSS on behalf of the Federal Government in suit number FHC/ABJ/CR/438/2026.
The five defendants, who the DSS identified as alleged members of the Jama’atu Ansarul Muslimina fi-Biladis Sudan (Ansaru) terrorist group, are Mahmud Muhammad, also known as Abu Bara’a and Abbas Mukhtar; Abubakar Abbas, also known as Isah Adam and Mallam Mahmuda Al-Nigeri; Abdulrazak Umar, also known as Abu Khalifa and Abu Khalid; Yunusa Musa, also known as Abu Yunusa Bin Musa; and Shamsu Adamu Sani, also known as Abu Itisar.
The suspects were initially scheduled to be arraigned on Wednesday, September 16, but the proceeding was halted after they insisted on being represented by lawyers of their choice.
At Wednesday’s aborted proceedings, Mr Akilaluyel Shettima, a Deputy Director with the Legal Aid Council had announced appearance for the five of them but the first accused person, Mahmud Muhammad objected.
Speaking on behalf of his colleagues, Muhammad told Justice Salim Ibrahim that they had been represented by one Bala Dakum as their lawyer before and would want him to continue to defend them.
At this point, the DSS lawyer and Director of the Public Prosecution of the Federation, DPPF, Mr Rotimi Oyedepo conceded that the issue of choice of lawyer is a constitutional matter that must be respected and allowed for the accused persons.
Oyedepo, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, told the court that the DSS is a law abiding institution not interested in persecution of the accused persons but only interested in justice.
At this point, Justice Ibrahim resolved to shift the fresh arraignment to September 17.
The Judge ordered the accused persons to contact their lawyer to be in court on September 17 for the re-arraignment to hold.
Justice Ibrahim also asked the DSS to allow the accused persons access their lawyer to prepare for their defence as required by law.