The Abuja division of the Federal High Court has ordered the remand of nine suspected terrorists that were arraigned over their alleged involvement in the unprovoked attacked on Yelewata community in Benue State, where over 150 persons were killed and properties worth millions of naira destroyed.
The defendants were remanded in Kuje Correctional Centre after they were arraigned by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), on a 57-count charge bordering on acts of terrorism.
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, who gave the order pending the hearing of their bail applications, adjourned the matter until February 26 and February 27 for trial.
The nine suspects include:Ardo Lawal Mohammed, Muhammadu Saidu, Alhaji Haruna Abdullahi, Yakubu Adamu, Muhammed Musa, Abubakar Adamu, Shaibu Ibrahim, Saleh Mohammed and Bako Jibrin.
During the proceedings, the AGF who led the Federal Government’s team of lawyers to court, told Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court that a 57-amended count had been filed against the defendants.
Fagbemi informed the court that though 10 defendants were earlier listed in the amended charge, he sought the order of court striking out the name of the 6th defendant, Yakubu Mamman.
The application was not opposed to by the defence counsel, including Ibrahim Angulu, SAN; A. I. Kaura and Adamu Abdullahi.
Accordingly, Mamman’s name was struck out from the charge by the court. Fagbemi also applied that the initial charge dated :September 9, 2025, but filed September 10, 2025, where eight defendants were listed, be substituted for the amended charge dated January 19, but filed January 20, marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/471/2025.
After the defence did not object to the application, the judge struck out the earlier charge.
The AGF, then, applied that the 57 counts be read to the defendants to take their plea.
The defendants were alleged to have carried out the attack on June 13, 2025, where many houses were burnt down and about 150 people were massacred, while others sustained various degrees of injuries.
After their not guilty plea, the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Mr Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, who led the team of lawyers in the case, sought a trial date to enable them present their evidence against the defendants.
Making his submission, Fagbemi said; “I want to say in line with Section 273 of ACJA (Administration of Criminal Justice Act), 2015, following the plea of the defendants that they are not guilty, it means they have invoked the jurisdiction of your lordship for trial.
“And based on the nature of the trial, I will be asking my lord for accelerated hearing, and the defendants be ordered to be taken to correctional facility pending trial,” Fagbemi prayed.
Asked by the judge the number of witnesses he intends to call, Fagbemi said: “For now, we have about eight witnesses.”
Thereafter, counsel for the 1st, 8th and 9th defendants, Ibrahim Angulu, SAN, told the court that though they had already filed an application for bail before the amended charge was served on them earlier in the morning, he the court’s indulgence to move an oral bail application.
Angulu cited a previous case to back his submission but Justice Abdulmalik turned down his request, ordering him to file a formal application.
“The practice of this court is that you file a formal bail application,” Justice Abdulmalik said.
The defendants and others still at large were alleged to have, sometime between May and June 2025 in Nasarawa State, knowingly and directly participated in meetings in connection with the commission of an act of terrorism.
They were said to have planned the attack on Yelwata Community in Guma Local Government Area of Benue, and subsequently carried it out June 13, 2025, resulting in the burning of houses, grievous bodily harm, and the death of approximately 150 persons.
The offence is said to be contrary to Section 12(a) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022 and punishable under the same section.
In count 25, Ardo Lawal Mohammed Dono (1st defendant) was alleged to have, between May and June 2025 in Nasarawa State, “instigated and instructed other ARDOs and all Fulani youths in Nasarawa State, Kwara State, Taraba State, Giza, and other surrounding villages to carry out attack on Yelwata Community” on June 13, 2025, where at least 150 persons died.
The offence is contrary to Section 26(2)(b) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022 and punishable under the same Act, among other counts.
