Nine suspects accused of involvement in the deadly Yelwata attack in Benue State on Monday pleaded not guilty to a 57-count amended charge bordering on terrorism before the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Monitored report shows that the suspects were arraigned before Justice Joyce Abdul-Malik following the withdrawal of charges against the sixth defendant, Yakubu Mamman, by the Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi SAN.
Appearing for the complainant were the AGF in person and the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation, Rotimi Oyedepo SAN.
Ibrahim Angulu SAN, Christiana Sylvester and Aminu Abubakar Bagudu represented the 1st, 8th and 9th defendants, respectively, while A.I. Kaura appeared for the 2nd defendant. Adamu Abdullahi held brief for the 3rd, 4th, 5th, 7th and 10th defendants.
Fagbemi informed the court that the prosecution had filed a 57-count amended charge dated January 19, 2026, and filed on January 20, 2026, against 10 defendants.
He said the prosecution was withdrawing the charge against the sixth defendant and also applied to withdraw the earlier eight-count charge, dated September 9, 2025.
The defense did not object, prompting Justice Abdul-Malik to strike out the name of the sixth defendant and withdraw the earlier charge.
The remaining defendants are Ardo Lawal Mohammed, Muhammadu Saidu, Alhaji Haruna Abdullahi, Yakubu Adamu, Muhammed Musa, Abubakar Adamu, Shaibu Ibrahim, Saleh Mohammed and Bako Jibrin. The matter was adjourned to February 26 and 27, 2026, for the commencement of trial, while Justice Abdul-Malik ordered that the defendants be remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre pending trial.