The Federal Government on Monday arraigned nine suspects over their alleged involvement in the attack on Yelwata community in Benue State.
The suspects were brought before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court in Abuja for the commencement of their trial.
At the proceedings, the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Lateef Fagbemi, informed the court that the prosecution had filed a 57-count amended charge against the defendants. The amended charge, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/471/2025, was filed on January 20, 2026.
Fagbemi also applied for the name of one of the initially listed defendants, Yakubu Mamman, to be struck out from the charge, leaving nine defendants to face trial.
The application was not opposed by defence counsel, including Ibrahim Angulu, A. I. Kaura and Adamu Abdullah. Justice Abdulmalik subsequently granted the request and struck out Yakubu Mamman’s name from the amended charge.
The court also struck out the earlier charge dated September 10, 2025, which had originally listed eight defendants.
All nine defendants present in court pleaded not guilty to the 57-count amended charge.
Those arraigned are Ardo Lawal Mohammed, Muhammadu Saidu, Alhaji Haruna Abdullahi, Yakubu Adamu, Muhammed Musa, Abubakar Adamu, Shaibu Ibrahim, Saleh Mohammed and Bako Jibrin.
The matter was adjourned for further proceedings.
