The indictment against nine accused terrorists who allegedly assaulted Yelwata in Benue, where about 150 people were killed, was modified by the Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday.
The Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Mr Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, who led the Federal Government’s team of attorneys 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 whereas 10 defendants were initially named in the amended charge, he sought the order of court striking out the name of the 6th defendant, Yakubu Mamman.
And the defence counsel, comprising Ibrahim Angulu, SAN; A. I. Kaura and Adamu Abdullahi, did not oppose AGF’s plea and Mamman’s name was stricken out from the accusation.
Fagbemi also sought that the first charge dated Sept. 9, 2025, but filed Sept. 10, 2025, where eight defendants were identified, be substituted for the amended charge dated Jan. 19, but filed Jan. 20 marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/471/2025.
The judge dismissed the previous accusation when the defense did not object to the application.
The AGF then moved that the 57 counts be read to the accused to obtain their plea.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the incident on June 13, 2025, in which numerous houses were set on fire, around 150 people were slaughtered, and others suffered varying degrees of injuries, was allegedly carried out by suspected terrorists.
The nine accused were Ardo Lawal Mohammed, Muhammadu Saidu, Alhaji Haruna Abdullahi, Yakubu Adamu, Muhammed Musa, Abubakar Adamu, Shaibu Ibrahim, Saleh Mohammed and Bako Jibrin.
The defendants are currently being read the 57 counts. (NAN)
