Two suspected Ansaru commanders, Mahmud Usman and Abubakar Abba, have pleaded guilty to a 32-count charge bordering on terrorism financing, kidnapping for ransom, illegal mining, the manufacture of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), and other terrorism-related offences before the Federal High Court in Abuja.

The defendants, also known as Mahmud Al-Nigeri and Abu Baraa, admitted to coordinating sleeper cells, planning terrorist attacks, maintaining links with terrorist groups operating across the Sahel and Maghreb regions, as well as engaging in activities aimed at financing and sustaining terrorism in Nigeria.

They changed their plea from not guilty to guilty before Justice Emeka Nwite after previously indicating their intention to do so at the last adjourned hearing.

Mahmud Usman had earlier been convicted and sentenced to 15 years’ imprisonment after pleading guilty to one count of illegal mining to finance terrorism and procure arms, while maintaining his innocence on the remaining 31 counts.

Meanwhile, Abubakar Abba had also initially pleaded not guilty to all the charges. However, when both men were re-arraigned on Monday, they admitted guilt to all the outstanding counts contained in the charge.

Read Also:Alleged Terrorism: Suspected Ansaru commanders trained in Libya, DSS witness tells court

Following the guilty pleas, prosecuting counsel, David Kwase, urged the court to convict the defendants on all 32 counts in line with Section 274(2) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015, which empowers the court to convict an accused person who voluntarily pleads guilty.

Defence counsel, however, appealed to the court to consider the defendants’ change of plea as evidence of remorse and repentance, urging leniency in sentencing.

Justice Emeka Nwite subsequently adjourned the case for judgment and sentencing on the remaining charges.