The Federal government on Tuesday commenced a mass trial of individuals accused of terrorism-related offences at the Federal High Court in Abuja, marking a temporary shift from the usual venue in Kainji, Niger State.
The relocation is due to the court’s Easter vacation, which runs from April 7 to April 13, with regular sittings expected to resume across all divisions on April 14.
Judicial sources indicate that all 13 courtrooms within the Abuja division are currently engaged with terrorism cases, underscoring the scale of the proceedings.
Presiding judges include Justices Binta Nyako, Emeka Nwite, Musa Liman, and Akpan Ekerete, among others.
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The prosecution team, led by Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, appeared before Justice Nyako, while the defence team for 20 of the accused persons was headed by Aliyu Abubakar, Director General of the Legal Aid Council.
Defendants listed in the ongoing proceedings include Hamat Modu, Isah Ali, Awal Bello, Shehu Bukar, Alhaji Kulle, Mohammed Abacha Hassan, Aminami Mallum, Tasiu Yakubu, and Abdullahi Ali, among others.
Security was significantly heightened around the court with armed personnel restricting access to adjoining roads, while aerial surveillance was conducted over the Central Business District.
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