The Federal High Court, Abuja Division on Thursday convicted and sentenced one of the leaders of proscribed terrorist organisation, Ansaru, Mahmud Usman, to a 15-year imprisonment for illegal mining activities.

Justice Emeka Nwite gave the order after Usman, a.k.a Abu Bara’a/Abbas Mukhtar, pleaded guilty to count 10 of the 32-count terrorism charge preferred against him and his deputy commander, Abubakar Abba, a.k.a Isah Adam/Mahmud Al-Nigeri.

Mr Nwite also ordered the convict to be remanded in the custody of the State Security Services pending his trial for the 31 counts in which he pleaded not guilty.

The order followed the application by the Federal Government’s counsel, M.B. Abubakar, who is the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, citing national security concerns.

Usman and Abba, in count 10, were alleged to have, sometime between 2015 and 2025 engaged in illegal mining.

They were accused of having mined precious minerals such as thunder and california stones without lawful authority.

The offence, according to the Federal Government, is contrary to and punishable under Section 8(b) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, LFN 2004, and punishable under the same Section of the Act.

Although Usman pleaded guilty to count 10, Abba, who is a deputy commander of the terrorist group, did not when the counts were read to them.

The judge consequently adjourned the matter until September 21 for trial.

On Wednesday, it was reported that the two top leaders of Ansaru, an Al-Qaeda affiliated network, would be arraigned today before Justice Nwite.

Usman and Abba, popularly called Mallam Mamuda, were arraigned on 32-count charge bordering on terrorism and others.

While Usman is the 1st defendant, Abba is the 2nd defendant in the charge marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/464/2025.

The charge is dated and filed on September 4 by Mr Abubakar on behalf of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice.

In count, Usman who hails from Okene Local Government Area (LGA) of Kogi State and Abba from Daura LGA of Katsina State were alleged to have aided and abetted the acts of terrorism sometime between 2013 and 2015.

They were accused of conspiring amongst themselves and agreeing to be part of the formation and top commanders of the Jama’atu Ansarul Muslimeena Fii Bilaadis Sudan (a.k.a. JAMBS/Ansaru, a proscribed terrorist organisation in Nigeria.

In counts three and four, they were accused of receiving training in weapons handling and training on the fabrication of Improvised Explosives Devices (IEDs) from various terrorist camps.

In count five, they were accused of an act preparatory to acts of terrorism by receiving training on war tactics from Jama’atu Nusratil Islami Wal Muslimin, a.k.a. JNIM, a terrorist group in Mali.

Also, count seven, they were accused of contributing to the attack on Wawa Cantonment of the Nigerian Army in Kainji, New-Bussa, Borgu LGA of Niger sometime in 2022 resulting in mass casualties, among the 32 counts.

(NAN)