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A woman identified as Sumaiya Abubakar has admitted in a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja to providing support to members of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) by concealing weapons on their behalf in Nasarawa State.
Sumaiya, a native of Shuwari village in Kukawa Local Government Area of Borno State, was arraigned on Tuesday before Justice Salim Ibrahim as the sole defendant in the terrorism charge filed by the Federal Government.
In the charge sheet marked FHC/ABJ/CR/418/2026 and instituted by the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, Sumaiya was accused of rendering support to the terrorist group around 2024 in the Shinge area of Lafia Local Government Area, Nasarawa State, by storing arms and ammunition for its members.
The prosecution noted that the offense violates and is punishable under Section 13 of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
When the two counts were read, Sumaiya pleaded not guilty to count one, but pleaded guilty to count two (rendering support to ISWAP by storing arms and ammunition).
Following the guilty plea, prosecuting counsel M.A. Oladunjoye requested the court to convict the defendant on count two and applied to withdraw count one.
Defense counsel E.G. Itodo raised no objections, prompting Justice Ibrahim to formally strike out count one.
Justice Ibrahim, however, held that the prosecution must conduct a formal review of facts before a conviction can be pronounced. He adjourned the matter to October 14, 2026, for the review of facts on count two and ordered that Sumaiya remain remanded in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS).
