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

A woman, Sumaiya Abubakar, 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 charge preferred against her by the federal government.

The federal government filed the charge against Sumaiya, the sole defendant in the case.

The director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, 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 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 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. (NAN)