September 11, 2025
The Federal High Court in Abuja, on Thursday, convicted and sentenced Mahmud Usman, a top commander of the proscribed terrorist organisation Ansaru, to a 15-year prison term for illegal mining in Nigeria.
Justice Emeka Nwite delivered the judgment after Usman, also known as Abu Bara’a or Abbas Mukhtar, pleaded guilty to count 10 of the 32-count terrorism charge filed against him and his deputy commander, Abubakar Abba, a.k.a. Isah Adam or Mahmud Al-Nigeri.
Justice Nwite further ordered that the convicted Ansaru leader be kept in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) pending trial on the 31 other terrorism-related counts to which he pleaded not guilty.
The ruling followed a motion filed by the Federal Government’s counsel, M.B. Abubakar, the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, who argued that national security required Usman’s continued detention.
Court documents revealed that Usman and Abba, in count 10, were accused of engaging in illegal mining activities in Nigeria between 2015 and 2025.
The duo allegedly extracted precious minerals including thunder stones and california stones without lawful authorization.
According to the Federal Government, their actions contravened Section 8(b) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, LFN 2004, which also prescribes the penalties for such offences.
While Usman admitted guilt to the mining-related charge, his deputy commander Abba rejected the charges when all 32 counts were read to the defendants in open court.
Justice Nwite subsequently adjourned the terrorism case to Sept. 21 for continuation of trial.
The court also confirmed that the two top Ansaru leaders, linked to the Al-Qaeda affiliated terrorist network, would face arraignment before Justice Nwite today.
Both Usman and Abba, popularly referred to as Mallam Mamuda, were arraigned on a 32-count charge involving terrorism, illegal mining, and related crimes.
In the case file marked FHC/ABJ/CR/464/2025, Usman is listed as the 1st defendant while Abba is the 2nd defendant.
The formal charges were dated and filed on Sept. 4 by Mr. Abubakar on behalf of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice.
The indictment further alleged that Usman, from Okene Local Government Area (LGA) of Kogi State, and Abba, from Daura LGA of Katsina State, aided and abetted acts of terrorism in Nigeria between 2013 and 2015.
Prosecutors accused the men of conspiring and agreeing to become founding commanders of Jama’atu Ansarul Muslimeena Fii Bilaadis Sudan (JAMBS/Ansaru), a group officially designated as a terrorist organisation in Nigeria.
Counts three and four alleged that both Ansaru leaders received training in weapons handling and instruction in the fabrication of Improvised Explosives Devices (IEDs) from various foreign and local terrorist camps.
In count five, prosecutors alleged that the duo engaged in preparatory acts of terrorism by receiving war tactics training from Jama’atu Nusratil Islami Wal Muslimin (JNIM), a notorious terrorist faction in Mali.
Count seven also accused the defendants of directly contributing to the attack on Wawa Cantonment of the Nigerian Army in Kainji, New-Bussa, Borgu LGA of Niger State in 2022, an operation that led to mass casualties. GMTNewsng
