Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja, on Friday, admitted the extrajudicial statements made by three accused individuals in a terrorism case. The statements, provided to the Department of State Service (DSS), were deemed to have been made voluntarily, with the judge noting that the defendants were not coerced.
The accused, Haruna Ali Abbas, Ibrahim Hussaini Musa, and Adam Sulaiman, are charged with spying on U.S. and Israeli interests for Iranian individuals. The case, which has been ongoing since 2014 and has seen multiple reassignments, reached a critical stage in August 2025. A trial-within-trial was conducted to determine the voluntariness of the defendants’ extrajudicial statements.
The defendants asserted they were coerced and intimidated into making their statements, whereas the prosecution maintained that the statements were voluntary and made in a conducive setting. The prosecution argued that the defendants read, understood, and signed the statements, warranting their admission as evidence.
Justice Nwite ordered a trial-within-trial, allowing both sides to present witnesses. The prosecution, bringing forward three witnesses, assured the court that the operations were conducted with adherence to standard procedures, including ensuring suspects’ welfare regarding food, medication, and family access.
Contrarily, the defendants claimed they experienced torture and inhumane treatment at the DSS facility.
After reviewing arguments from both sides, Justice Nwite admitted the statements as evidence, finding that the prosecution’s witnesses convincingly demonstrated the absence of coercion.
The case has been adjourned to January 22, 2026, for a substantive hearing.
