Court Hears Eyewitness Accounts in Murder Trial of ARISE News Journalist

Court Hears Eyewitness Accounts in Murder Trial of ARISE News Journalist

The trial of eleven men accused of murdering ARISE News journalist Somtochukwu Maduagwu and estate security guard Barnabas Danlami began on Tuesday at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, Abuja, with witnesses providing detailed accounts of the night of the armed attack.

The defendants—Shamsu Hassan, Sani Sirajo, Hassan Isah, Abubakar Alkamu, Abdulsalam Saleh, Suleiman Badamasi, Zaharadeen Mohammed, Musa Umar (“Small”), Mashkur Jamil, Suleiman Sani, and Abubakar Usman—were produced from the Kuje Correctional Centre after missing court on Monday. They are facing a nine-count charge including murder, armed robbery, and criminal conspiracy, and all pleaded not guilty.

The prosecution opened its case with testimony from Sani Yusuf, a civil engineer and former resident of Unique Apartments, Katampe, Abuja, who recounted being awakened in the early hours of 29 September 2025 by gunfire, banging at his door, and masked intruders speaking Hausa. Yusuf said the attackers demanded valuables, including his Samsung Galaxy S25 phone and MacBook Air laptop, and tried to force him to transfer money from his phone.

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Yusuf told the court that he heard screams and commotion across multiple apartments, including a female voice calling for help. He discovered that security guard Barnabas Danlami had been shot, and neighbours rushed him to Maitama District Hospital, but he later died. Yusuf also identified his neighbour, Somtochukwu Maduagwu, who suffered a fatal head injury and was pronounced dead at the hospital.

Another witness, Fatou Toborteh, described how armed men invaded her apartment around 3:00 a.m., taking valuables including phones, cash, a laptop, and car keys for her Honda CR-V. After the attackers fled, she and other residents found a woman lying in blood, later confirmed as Ms Maduagwu.

The presiding judge, Justice Mohammed Idris, adjourned the case until 12 February 2026 for continuation of hearings. Witnesses noted that the suspects wore masks, making immediate identification difficult, but their testimonies aim to establish a clear timeline of the crime.

The trial has drawn national attention, highlighting concerns over residential security, violent crime, and the safety of journalists in Nigeria. Media advocacy groups continue to call for enhanced protection measures for reporters, particularly those covering high-risk assignments.

Court Hears Eyewitness Accounts in Murder Trial of ARISE News Journalist