The Department of State Services (DSS) will on Thursday, September 17, re-arraign five men accused of involvement in the May 15 abduction of pupils and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.
The suspects are also accused of complicity in the subsequent killing of two of the victims.
They are expected to be re-arraigned on a six-count amended charge filed by the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation (DPPF), Rotimi Oyedepo, on behalf of the Federal Government.
The accused, who the prosecution alleges are members of the Jama’atu Ansarul Muslimina fi-Biladis Sudan (ANSARU) terrorist group, 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 suspects were initially scheduled to be re-arraigned on Wednesday, September 16, but the proceeding was adjourned after they insisted on being represented by lawyers of their choice.
At the proceeding, a Deputy Director with the Legal Aid Council, Akilaluyel Shettima, announced his appearance for the five accused persons.
However, the first defendant, Mahmud Muhammad, objected to the representation.
Speaking on behalf of the other defendants, Muhammad told the trial judge, Justice Salim Ibrahim, that they had previously been represented by a lawyer, Bala Dakum, and wanted him to continue handling their case.
The DPPF conceded that the choice of legal representation is a constitutional right that should be respected.
Oyedepo told the court that the DSS was a law-abiding institution and was not interested in persecuting the defendants but in ensuring that justice was served.
Justice Ibrahim subsequently adjourned the re-arraignment to September 17.
The judge directed the defendants to contact their lawyer and ensure his appearance in court on Thursday to enable the re-arraignment to proceed.
He also ordered the DSS to grant the accused persons access to their lawyer to enable them prepare for their defence.
