Judge Rebukes Lawyers, Issues Final Warning in Trial of Boko Haram Splinter Leader, Al-Barnawi

Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Tuesday came down hard on defence lawyers representing Mohammed Usman, popularly known as Khalid al-Barnawi, the leader of Boko Haram’s breakaway faction Ansaru, and four of his co-accused, after they failed to appear in court.

Al-Barnawi and his associates — Mohammed Bashir Saleh, Umar Mohammed Bello (alias Datti), Mohammed Salisu and Yakubu Nuhu (alias Bello Maishayi) — are facing multiple terrorism charges, including membership of Ansaru, conspiracy, and coordinating attacks across Sokoto, Kebbi, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe and other northern states between 2011 and 2013.

At Tuesday’s proceedings, prosecuting counsel Dr. Alex Izinyon (SAN) informed the court that the day had been fixed for continuation of a trial-within-trial. However, neither Al-Barnawi nor his lawyer was present. Counsel for two other defendants were also absent. Izinyon noted that Al-Barnawi’s lawyer, who had claimed to be in Enugu, failed to send a representative as earlier promised.

Expressing frustration, Izinyon described the conduct as “disrespectful” and counterproductive to the court’s determination to fast-track a case that has dragged on for over 13 years.

Lawyer to two of the accused persons, Abdulkarim Audu, admitted that the hearing could not move forward in the absence of the first defendant and several counsel, but appealed for a brief adjournment to allow progress within the court’s vacation period.

In a stern ruling, Justice Nwite warned that the court would not tolerate attempts by the defendants or their lawyers to stall proceedings.

“It is unfortunate that this scenario is playing out when the effort is to ensure expeditious hearing of the matter. This court will not condone the attitude of the first defendant or any of the defendants in absenting themselves from proceedings,” he said.

He issued what he called a “final warning” to both the accused and their lawyers to attend future sittings unfailingly, directing counsel on both sides to resolve whatever caused the absence.

The case was adjourned to September 5 and 12, 2025, for the continuation of evidence from the third prosecution witness (PW3) and the playing of video evidence.

Al-Barnawi, once considered one of Nigeria’s most dangerous jihadists, was declared a “specially designated global terrorist” by the United States in 2012, with a $5 million bounty placed on his head. His group, Ansaru, is said to be ideologically aligned with al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb and has been linked to the killing of Western nationals as well as a 2012 attack on Abuja’s maximum-security prison that freed dozens of inmates.