The Federal High Court in Abuja has taken a significant procedural step in the prosecution of suspects linked to the deadly Yelwata attack in Benue State, approving an amended charge that now targets nine defendants accused of terrorism-related offences.
The development occurred on Monday during court proceedings presided over by Justice Joyce Abdulmalik.
The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, personally led the Federal Government’s legal team and informed the court of adjustments made to the original charge filed against the accused persons.
According to the Attorney-General, the prosecution has now filed a comprehensive 57-count amended charge to replace the earlier version instituted in September 2025.
He explained that the revised charge reflects further investigations and refinements by security agencies following the violent Yelwata incident, which left about 150 people dead and displaced several families.
Fagbemi told the court that the amended charge initially listed 10 defendants. However, he formally applied for the removal of one of them, Yakubu Mamman, who was named as the sixth defendant.
The request, he said, was based on updated legal and evidentiary considerations.
Counsel to the defence team, including senior advocates Ibrahim Angulu, SAN; A. I. Kaura; and Adamu Abdullahi, did not oppose the application.
With no objection raised, Justice Abdulmalik ordered that Mamman’s name be struck out from the case, leaving nine suspects to face trial.
The Attorney-General also urged the court to set aside the earlier charge dated September 9, 2025, and filed on September 10, 2025, which had initially listed eight defendants.
He requested that the court substitute it with the amended charge dated January 19, 2026, and filed on January 20, 2026, under suit number FHC/ABJ/CR/471/2025.
After confirming that the defence had no objection, the judge struck out the original charge in its entirety. This paved the way for the prosecution to proceed under the new legal framework.
Fagbemi subsequently applied for the amended 57-count charge to be read to the defendants so they could enter their pleas in line with due process.
The suspects are accused of masterminding and carrying out the Yelwata attack on June 13, 2025.
According to the prosecution, the assailants invaded the agrarian community in Benue State, setting houses on fire, killing residents indiscriminately, and leaving scores of others with varying degrees of injuries.
The attack sent shockwaves across Benue State and beyond, drawing widespread condemnation from government officials, civil society groups, and community leaders.
Many described the incident as one of the deadliest assaults on a rural community in recent years, highlighting the growing concerns over insecurity in parts of the country.
Prosecutors allege that the accused persons acted in concert and were linked to terror networks responsible for orchestrating violence, intimidation, and destruction of property.
The charges reportedly include offences bordering on terrorism, conspiracy, mass murder, arson, and illegal possession of weapons, all connected to the Yelwata killings.
The nine defendants currently standing trial are Ardo Lawal Mohammed, Muhammadu Saidu, Alhaji Haruna Abdullahi, Yakubu Adamu, Muhammed Musa, Abubakar Adamu, Shaibu Ibrahim, Saleh Mohammed, and Bako Jibrin.
They are expected to take their pleas when the amended charge is formally read in open court.
Legal observers say the court’s approval of the amended charge underscores the Federal Government’s determination to pursue accountability for mass casualty attacks such as the Yelwata tragedy.
They also note that the direct involvement of the Attorney-General signals the seriousness attached to the case.
Meanwhile, families of victims and residents of Yelwata have continued to call for justice, urging authorities to ensure that the trial is thorough, transparent, and free from undue delays.
Community leaders argue that justice for the victims would help restore confidence in the justice system and deter future attacks.
The case has been adjourned to a later date for the arraignment of the defendants under the amended charge, as the court prepares to move the trial into its substantive phase.
Ireport247news
