The Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday adjourned the trial of an alleged commander of Ansaru, an Al-Qaeda-affiliated terrorist group, until July 20 to enable him to decide whether to change his not guilty plea to the terrorism charges filed against him.
The defendant, Abubakar Abba, also known as Abu Bara, is standing trial alongside Mahmud Usman, also known as Isah Adam and Mahmud Al-Nigeri, before Justice Emeka Nwite on a 32-count charge bordering on terrorism and related offences.
The matter, which came up for continuation of hearing, took a different turn after Abba informed the court of his intention to withdraw the not guilty plea he entered at his arraignment.
However, after conferring with his counsel, Husseina Tukur, the defendant told the court that he was yet to make a final decision on whether to change his plea or retain the earlier one.
Prosecution counsel, David Kaswe, opposed any further adjournment, arguing that the defendant had made a similar request at the previous sitting.
