By Uche Onyeali
Trial of nine suspected terrorists linked with the June 2025 Yelwata killings was yesterday stalled after one of the defendants fainted in court.
The third defendant, Alhaji Haruna Abdullahi slumped from his seat and fell to the floor prior to the commencement of the case before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court in Abuja.
While the prison officials who brought the suspects to court tried to revive him and later helped him back on his chair, Abdullahi remained unresponsive.
Upon resumed hearing, the prosecution counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN) told the court that the matter was slated for trial-within-trial.
Oyedepo, however, said he was informed by officials of the Nigerian Correctional Service, NCoS, that the third defendant, who came to court by himself, developed serious health issues while in court.
He said the Federal Government was not persecuting the defendants but that they were being prosecuted over their alleged involvement in the killings in Yelwata Community in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State.
According to Oyedepo, the defendant must be well to face his trial in court.
Ahmed Mohammad, who appeared for Abdullahi, told the judge that even though his client came to court by himself, his health condition got worse leading to his collapse.
He prayed the court for an adjournment to enable the defendant get medical attention at any hospital in Abuja.
Counsel to the fist defendant, Ibrahim Angulu (SAN) and the prosecuting did not object to the request for adjournment.
Consequently, the judge adjourned the matter untill March 30 and 31 for continuation of trial.
The judge also ordered that hearing notices should be served on the defendants.
Recall that the defendants, who were arraigned on 57-count amended charge bordering on alleged terrorism offences, pleaded not guilty to all the counts.
It was reported that the terror attack on Yelwata town claimed the lives of about 150 people and others sustained variius degrees of injuries while many houses were razed.
The nine suspects standing trial are Lawal Dono, Muhammadu Saidu, Haruna Abdullahi, Yakubu Adamu, Musa Mohammed, Abubakar Adamu, Shaibu Ibrahim, Sale Mohammed and Bako Jibrin.
In count one of the charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/471/2025, the defendants and others still at large were alleged to have, sometime between May and June 2025 in Nasarawa State, knowingly and directly participated in meetings in connection with the commission of an act of terrorism.
They were said to have planned the attack on Yelwata Community in Guma Local Government Area of Benue, and subsequently carried it out June 13, 2025, resulting in the burning of houses, grievous bodily harm, and the death of approximately 150 persons.
The offence is said to be contrary to Section 12(a) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022 and punishable under the same section.
In count 25, Dono (first defendant) was alleged to have, between May and June 2025 in Nasarawa State, “instigated and instructed other chiefs and Fulani youths in Nasarawa State, Kwara, Taraba, Giza, and other surrounding villages to carry out attack on Yelwata Community” on June 13, 2025.
The offence is contrary to Section 26(2)(b) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022 and punishable under the same Act, among other counts.
