A Federal High Court sitting in Kano has ordered the remand of two Katsina State residents accused of providing support to bandits pending the commencement of their trial.
The defendants, Sani Mamman and Abubakar Umar, were arraigned on charges bordering on alleged involvement in activities said to contravene the provisions of the Terrorism Prevention Act.
According to the prosecution, Mamman, a resident of Ruwan Godiya in Faskari Local Government Area of Katsina State, was allegedly recruited in March 2025 to transport suspected bandits to a forest in the area.
The prosecution maintained that the alleged offence violated Section 13(a), (b) and (c) of the Terrorism Prevention Act.
Mamman, however, pleaded not guilty, telling the court that he was not a commercial driver as alleged but earned a living by selling beans with a wheelbarrow.
He also informed the court that while his father was deceased, his mother resides in Funtua.
The prosecuting counsel, Hadiza Adamu Yabani, told the court that the defendant had remained in custody since his arrest in March 2025.
The second defendant, Abubakar Umar, a resident of Rimi Local Government Area of Katsina State, was accused of attempting to transport arms and ammunition to suspected bandits following his arrest on December 2, 2024.
The prosecution argued that the allegation also constituted an offence under Section 13 of the Terrorism Prevention Act.
Umar denied the allegation, insisting that he had no involvement in the alleged crime.
He told the court that he was engaged in farming and the sale of perishable goods before his arrest.
Defence counsel, H.A. Kalmaten, informed the court that he had taken over the matter from the previous counsel, I.I. Umar, after consultations with the defendants.
After listening to both parties, the presiding judge, Justice S.M. Shuaibu, adjourned the case until July 7 and 8, 2026, for the commencement of trial.
The judge also ordered that the two defendants be remanded in a correctional facility within the court’s jurisdiction pending further proceedings.