Gas, a judge in the Federal Capital Territory, has declined to step down from her position as an expert witness in an EFCC criminal case.
The recusal motion in the case against Prince Chibuike Echem and Alhaji Mohammed Danjuma was denied by Justice K.N. Ogbunnaya of High Court 15, of the FCTm, on charges of conspiracy, inducement, and falsification.
With reasons for recusal in hand, the defendants asked the judge to withdraw from the case. Nonetheless, Justice Ogbonnaya rejected the motion and issued a warrant for her trial to go forward.
In an earlier motion, the defendants asked the Federal Capital Territory Chief Judge to intervene and transfer the case. The motion was approved, and the case was moved to a different court that is presided over by Justice Y. Halilu.
In a surprising turn of events, however, Justice Halilu informed the parties that Justice Ogbonnaya had remanded the case to his court when the case was listed before him.
Justice Ogbunnaya heard the case today, March 25, 2026, and the defendants did not have counsel present. The defendants claimed in court that their legal representation had deserted them.
In their grievances, they mentioned many developments that occurred after the bail application ruling, such as the purported denial of release of the certified true copy (CTC) of the ruling.
The publication of the certified true copy (CTC) of the verdict was attributed by Justice Ogbonnaya to the court’s inconsistent power supply, and she added in her remarks that it was solely an administrative concern.
But she was adamant that the trial would go forward as planned regardless of whether or not the defendants had solicitors. She stated that the case will proceed until the Chief Judge gave the order to reschedule or direct the hearing, as only he has the power to do so.
When the defendants appealed for time to engage new counsel, she declined the request and adjourned to tomorrow March 26, 2026.
On Wednesday, Mr. James Simon, a witness for the Department of State Services (DSS), testified before a Federal High Court in Abuja. Simon said that three terrorism suspects being tried by his agency had confessed to spying on American and Israeli embassies on behalf of the Republic of Iran, in connection with an alleged terrorist assault.
Witness testified before Justice Emeka Nwite that Adam Suleiman, Ibrahim Hussein Musa, and Haruna Ali Abbas all admitted guilt in extrajudicial confessions given after their detention and during questioning.
The first defendant, Haruna Abbas, admitted to being the leader of the group that travelled to Iran to get training on weapon handling and to get open source news about the United States and Israel for Iran, according to Simon, a Deputy Director with the DSS who read the defendant’s extrajudicial statement in open court.
Under cross-examination by defence attorney Aliyu Yawuru, a prosecution witness testified that the participation of non-military personnel in conducting surveillance, recruiting individuals, and handling weapons constitutes acts of terrorism.
The witness stated that the defendants’ stated goal is to conduct surveillance and information collecting on the embassies of the United States and Israel.
The defendant allegedly said that as soon as they arrived in Iran, they were led to a two-story building and thereafter to an Iranian military barracks for gun shooting training.
We were detained in Nigeria when we arrived, even though they had asked for three more reliable individuals to be brought to them for training.
The witness testified that the accused admitted aiding the Kwara State government in the agricultural sector from the Israeli government.
In his extrajudicial testimony, the first defendant said, “His mission was to send news concerning the American Embassy and the Embassy of Israel,” which the witness cited.
In the meanwhile, PW1’s cross-examination will continue on April 4 after the court adjourned.
The charge sheet with the number FHC/ABJ/CR/129/2014 states that while travelling from Lebanon to Kano from the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport on March 16, 2013, Abbas was allegedly apprehended.
The prosecution claims that Abbas enlisted the help of two young Nigerians, Musa and Suleiman, to undergo terrorist training in Iran.
In addition to agreeing to send people to Iran for terrorist training, he is also accused of taking part in terrorist meetings and providing support for an act of terrorism.
According to the charges against Abbas, he “embarked on an act preparatory to an act of terrorism by compiling a list of American and Israeli concerns in Lagos, and their locations in map, which included the USA Consular office in Lagos and sent them to one Abu Ali in Iran using coded language with encryption software through his email addresses.”
Both Musa and Suleiman are facing charges related to “conspiracy to do an act preparatory to an act of terrorism by obtaining Nigeria’s international passport and Iranian visa for the purpose of travelling to Iran for terrorist training.”