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…Court Refuses To Vary N2bn Bail Condition For Miyetti Allah Leader
ABUJA – The Federal High Court in Abuja, on Thursday, sentenced three men arrested by the Department of State Services (DSS) and accused of complicity in the recent abduction of students of schools in the Oriire Local Government of Oyo State, to life imprisonment.
The three are Abdulrazak Umar (aka Abu Khalifa/Abu Khalid), Yinusa Musa (aka Yunusa Bin Musa), and Shamu Adamu Sani (aka Abu Itisar).
They were convicted and sentenced by Justice Salim Ibrahim shortly after pleading guilty to two, out of the 10 counts, contained in a charge, marked: FHC/ ABJ/CR/412/2026 on which they were arraigned.
The three pleaded guilty to counts four and six, relating to concealment of information about the activities of those behind the abduction and professing to be members of Darul Salam, an affiliate of Jamadadtu Asarul Muslima Fi Bilandis Sudan (Ansaru), a proscribed terrorist group in Nigeria.
The counts, to which they pleaded guilty, read: “That you, Abdulrazak Umar (aka Abu Khalifa/Abu Khalid), Yinusa Musa (aka Yunusa Bin Musa) and Shamu Adamu Sani (aka Abu Itisar), adults, all of Suleja LGA, Niger State, sometime between January and May, 2026, at Suleja LGA, Niger State, did commit an offence to wit: concealment, in that you had information about Muhammad Sani, Jibril Mohammed and Ibrahim Khabab as terrorists, who are masterminds of the kidnap of school children and teachers of Oriire LGA of Oyo State, but failed to report same to the relevant security operatives. You thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 16(1) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022 and punishable under the same section of the Act.
“That you, Abdulrazak Umar (aka Abu Khalifa/Abu Khalid), Yinusa Musa (aka Yunusa Bin Musa) and Shamu Adamu Sani (aka Abu Itisar), adults all of Suleja LGA, Niger State, on or about the 2nd June, 2026 at Suleja LGA, Niger State, did commit an offence to wit: membership, when you professed to be members of Darul Salam, an affiliate of Jamadadtu Asarul Muslima Fi Bilandis Sudan (Ansaru), a proscribed terrorist group in Nigeria. You thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 25(1) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022 and punishable under the same section of the Act.”
Daily Independent recall that on Friday, the Federal Government charged three men, Abdulrazak Umar (aka Abu Khalifa/ Abu Khalid), Yunusa Musa (aka Yunusa bin Musa), and Shamsu Adamu Sani (aka Abu Itisar), for the recent kidnap of children and teachers of schools in Oriire Local Government Area (LGA) of Oyo State.
The 10-count charge filed before the Federal High Court, Abuja, borders on terrorism, kidnapping, concealment, incitement and illegal mining.
The defendants, all from Suleja Local Government Area of Niger State, are alleged to have conspired with one Muhammad Sani, Jibril Mohammed and Ibrahim Khabab between January and May 2026 to kidnap school children and teachers in Oyo State, contrary to Section 26(1) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
They are further alleged to have aided the kidnap of the school children and teachers, and to have concealed information regarding the identities and activities of the alleged masterminds despite knowledge of the plot, offences said to contravene Sections 26(2) and 16(1) of the Act, respectively.
The charge sheet also alleged that the trio, on or about 2nd June 2026, professed membership of Darul Salam, described as an affiliate of Jamaatu Asarul Muslima Fi Bilandis Sudan (Ansaru), a proscribed terrorist organisation in Nigeria, contrary to Section 25(1) of the Act.
In separate counts, the first defendant, Abdulrazak Umar, is specifically accused of providing training and instructions to terrorists and inciting members to commit acts of terrorism through a WhatsApp group titled ‘The Oneness of Allah is the Foundation of Peace’, offences said to contravene Sections 15 and 2(2)(g) of the Terrorism Act as well as Section 18 of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015.
The tenth count accused Umar of engaging in unlawful gold mining at streams within Chaza area of Suleja LGA between 2024 and 2026, contrary to Section 8(b) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act.
Others are still being probed as the agency, DSS, is insistent on diligent investigation.
Court Refuses To Vary N2bn Bail Condition For Miyetti Allah Leader
Meanwhile, a Federal High Court in Abuja, on Thursday, refused to hear an application filed by the National President of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, Bello Bodejo, seeking a review of the N2 billion bail condition earlier imposed on him.
Justice Inyang Ekwo ruled that the application could not proceed because the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had opposed the request, making it unlikely that the matter would be concluded before the court begins its annual vacation.
Embattled Bodejo is facing money laundering charges filed by the EFCC over $2.63 million allegedly linked to the Bauchi State government.
The court had, on Monday, granted him bail in the sum of N2 billion with two sureties. One surety must provide evidence of three years’ tax clearance and reside within the court’s jurisdiction, while the second must own landed property in Abuja valued at N2 billion.
During Thursday’s proceedings, Bodejo’s counsel, Mohammed Sheriff, informed the court that an application had been filed to vary the bail conditions.
Counsel to the EFCC, Fatai Erewunmi, confirmed receiving the application and told the court that the anti-graft agency had responded by filing a counter- affidavit opposing the request.
After considering the submissions, Justice Ekwo observed that there would likely be insufficient time to determine the contested application before the court vacation begins.
The judge advised both parties to present the application before a vacation judge during the recess, noting that the substantive trial would return to his court afterward. He subsequently adjourned the case until October 5, 2026, for the commencement of trial.
According to the EFCC, Bodejo allegedly received $100,000 from Sa’idu Abubakar, a former Accountant-General of Bauchi State, who is currently in police custody, along with other cash payments in foreign currency.
The commission alleged that the cash transaction exceeded the legal threshold of N5 million permitted outside the banking system under Nigeria’s money laundering laws.
The EFCC said the alleged act violated provisions of both the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended) and the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, under which Bodejo is being prosecuted.
