Yelewata: Judge warns against delay in trial of nine suspects

From Godwin Tsa, Abuja

Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Abuja division of the Federal High Court has warned against delay tactics in the trial of nine suspected terrorists who attacked the Yelewata community in Benue on 13 June 2025, where over 200 people were killed and properties worth millions of naira destroyed.

Justice Abdulmalik issued the warning yesterday after Y.A. Hassan, counsel to Sale Mohammed and Bako Jibrin (8th and 9th defendants), sought an adjournment of the case.

Hassan had informed the court that it was his “first appearance in the matter” and that he needed more time to study the case file.

He stated that he was just being briefed about the case and that it was his “first appearance in the matter” and he was yet to familiarise himself with the charges.

Consequently, he appealed for a short adjournment, explaining that he was yet to familiarise himself with the facts of the case, as he had not even seen the charges preferred against his clients.

The prosecution counsel, who is the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation (DPPF), Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, did not oppose the application but told Mr Hassan that “evidence in chief could be taken” while cross-examination could occur on the next date.

He, however, urged the court to grant a brief date if it wished.

When Hassan insisted he was not ready, Justice Abdulmalik cautioned him before adjourning the case.

“Before you take up a case, you are supposed to ask necessary questions so you don’t waste the time of the court,” she said.

The judge warned that the matter is of significant public interest and that the court would not tolerate unnecessary delay going forward.

She consequently adjourned the matter until 9 and 10 March for the continuation of the trial.

The federal government had, on 2 February, arraigned nine defendants linked to the 13 June 2025 attack.

They are Ardo Lawal Mohammed Dono, Ardo Muhammadu Saidu, Alhaji Haruna Abdullahi, Yakubu Adamu, Alhaji Musa Mohammed, Abubakar Adamu, Shaibu Ibrahim, Sale Mohammed and Bako Jibrin.

The Federal Government opened its case against the defendants on February 26 through its first prosecution witness (PW1), CSP Moses Paul, who narrated how over 200 men armed with AK-47 rifles were mobilised by some Fulani chiefs to carry out the deadly attack on the Yelewata community.

Paul, an investigator and member of the Intelligence Response Unit (IRU) of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), told the court that the investigation into the case is still ongoing and that more suspects would be brought to court.

The nine defendants, accused of orchestrating the 13 June 2025 attack, were preferred with a 57-count charge under the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

They were accused of planning the attack, recruiting fighters, providing financial and logistical support and coordinating the armed assault that killed scores of residents and destroyed property.

The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to the counts, and the court ordered that they should be remanded in Kuje Correctional Centre.