A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Wednesday ruled that the trial of two leaders of the Ansaru terrorist group, Mahmud Usman and Abubakar Abba, captured by the Department of State Services (DSS) will begin on January 15, 2026. The trial, which was initially slated to begin on Wednesday, was put off by the trial judge, Justice Emeka Nwite, following plea by counsel to the accused persons for time to enable him be served with the charges, and to study the charges' proof of evidence. 

At Wednesday's proceedings, lawyer to the accused persons, B. I Bakum, told the court that the charge and proof of evidence were still with the DSS where the terror suspects were being detained on the orders of the court. The lawyer prayed the court that the two defendants be moved to a correctional centre to enable easy access and ensure prompt and hitch-free trial. 

However, counsel to the DSS, David Kaswe, an Assistant Director in the Federal Ministry of Justice, opposed the defendants' lawyer's prayer. Kasawe prayed the court to begin the trial as scheduled since, according to him, the witnesses were in court. He said that protocol in the DSS required the defendant's lawyer to write to the agency seeking permission to see his clients and copy him adding that the lawyer had failed to for so. 

Kaswe pleaded with the Judge to order the defendants lawyer to always respect the protocol of the DSS by writing formally for permission to visit the defendants and also copy him so that he would be of assistance.  Justice Nwite in a brief ruling said he would, in the interest of fair hearing, consider the submission of the defendants' lawyer and move the trial a future date. 

In shifting the trial to January 15, 2026, Justice Nwite ordered the defendants lawyer to always write DSS for permission to visit his clients and copy the prosecutor. Usman and Abubakar Abba are being prosecuted for terrorism by the DSS. However, Usman has pleaded guilty to Count 10 in the 32-count charge, which bordered on economic crime. While Abubakar Abba pleaded not guilty to the 32-count charge on terrorism offences, Usman denied the remaining 31 counts.