The trial for the eleven individuals accused in the murder case of Somtochukwu Maduagwu, an ARISE News journalist, and a security guard, Barnabas Danlami, was postponed on Monday. This delay occurred because the Nigerian Correctional Services did not deliver the defendants to the courtroom.
During the hearing at the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Adama Musa, representing the prosecution, informed the judges of the defendants' absence, even though their lawyers were present.
Musa voiced his frustration regarding the situation, indicating that the Correctional Services claimed ignorance of the scheduled trial date of January 9, despite the prosecution having brought four witnesses ready to testify.
The defendants were initially arraigned on January 21, 2026, with the court designating February 9, 10, and 12 for the continuation of the trial.
To address the stalemate, Justice Mohammed Idris, the presiding judge, postponed the case to Tuesday, February 10, advising the witnesses to remain available for the next session to uphold justice.
Additionally, the judge mandated that an official notification be sent to the Nigerian Correctional Services to ensure the presence of the defendants during the next court appearance.
The case follows a violent robbery that occurred on September 29, 2025, at Unique Apartments in Katampe Extension, Abuja, which resulted in the deaths of Maduagwu and Danlami.
The eleven accused face nine charges, including conspiracy, armed robbery, and murder. The individuals listed include Shamsu Hassan, Sani Sirajo, Hassan Isah, Abubakar Alkamu, Abdulsalam Saleh, Suleiman Badamasi, Zaharadeen Mohammed, Musa Umar (also known as “Small”), Mashkur Jamil, Suleiman Sani, and Abubakar Usman.
Both the prosecution and defense lawyers refrained from commenting to the media following the court proceedings.
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