The Department of State Services (DSS) will on Thursday re-arraign five suspected members of the Ansaru terrorist group over their alleged involvement in the May 15 abduction of pupils and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.

The suspects are also facing allegations linked to the subsequent killing of two of the abducted victims.

The Federal Government filed a six-count amended charge, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/438/2026, before the Federal High Court in Abuja through the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN.

Suspects Seek Lawyer of Their Choice

The five defendants are Mahmud Muhammad, also known as Abu Bara’a and Abbas Mukhtar; Abubakar Abbas, aka Isah Adam and Mallam Mahmuda Al-Nigeri; Abdulrazak Umar, aka Abu Khalifa and Abu Khalid; Yunusa Musa, aka Abu Yunusa Bin Musa; and Shamsu Adamu Sani, aka Abu Itisar.

The court had scheduled their arraignment for Wednesday, but proceedings stalled after the first defendant objected to representation by a lawyer from the Legal Aid Council.

The council’s Deputy Director, Akilaluyel Shettima, had announced his appearance for the five defendants before Justice Saliu Ibrahim.

However, Muhammad told the court that the defendants wanted their previous lawyer, Bala Dakum, to continue representing them.

“We had been represented by Bala Dakum as our lawyer before and we would want him to continue to defend us,” he said.

Court Grants Access to Defence Lawyer

Oyedepo acknowledged the defendants’ constitutional right to counsel of their choice and said the DSS was committed to ensuring justice.

Following the objection, Justice Ibrahim adjourned the case until Thursday for the defendants to be re-arraigned.

The judge directed the suspects to contact Dakum and ensure his presence in court. He also ordered the DSS to grant the defendants access to their lawyer to enable them prepare their defence in accordance with the law.