Woman ​‌‍‍‍‍⁠⁠‍​​‍⁠‍‍​⁠‌​pleads guilty to assisting ISWAP members to keep arms, ammunition

A woman, Sumaiya Abubakar, on Tuesday admitted to rendering support to members of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) in Nasarawa State.

Sumaiya, who was arraigned before Justice Salim Ibrahim of the Federal High Court in Abuja, pleaded guilty to count two of the charges preferred against her by the Federal Government.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Federal Government filed the charge against Sumaiya, the sole defendant in the case.

Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, in the charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/418/2026, accused the defendant of terrorism-related offences.

In count two, where she pleaded guilty, Sumaiya, who hails from Shuwari village, Kukawa Local Government Area (LGA) of Borno, was alleged to have committed the offence sometime in 2024 at Shinge area, Lafiya LGA of Nasarawa State.

She was alleged to have knowingly rendered support to members of the ISWAP by helping to keep arms and ammunition.

The offence, the prosecution said, is contrary to and punishable under Section 13 of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

When the case was called, M.A. Oladunjoye, who appeared for the Federal Government, informed the court that the matter was scheduled for Sumaiya’s arraignment.

E.G. Itodo, the defence lawyer, did not object.

When the counts were read to Sumaiya, she pleaded not guilty to count one but pleaded guilty to count two.

Oladunjoye then prayed the court to convict the defendant in the count she had pleaded guilty to.

The lawyer then applied to withdraw count one, where the defendant pleaded not guilty to.

Itodo did not oppose the application for withdrawal, and Justice Ibrahim struck out count one from the charge.

But the judge observed that there was a need for the prosecuting counsel to review the facts before the defendant is convicted.

Justice Ibrahim therefore adjourned the matter until Oct. 14 for review of facts on count two, which Sumaiya pleaded guilty to.

He equally ordered that the defendant should be remanded in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) pending the next adjourned date. (NAN)