Eleven suspects accused of involvement in the killing of Arise News anchor, Somtochukwu Maduagwu, popularly known as Sommie, have been arraigned before the Federal Capital Territory FCT High Court on amended charges, as the court set aside three consecutive days for the hearing of the high profile case.
The defendants were arraigned on Wednesday following the filing of amended charges on January 10, 2026. The arraignment marks a significant step in the prosecution of a case that has drawn widespread public attention and intensified concerns about security within residential estates in Abuja.
A lawyer familiar with the proceedings, Najib Adamu Usman Esq., disclosed that the amended charges go beyond the alleged murder of the Arise News journalist. According to him, the defendants are also facing additional counts of armed robbery relating to attacks allegedly carried out against other residents of the same estate where the journalist was killed.
At the arraignment, all eleven defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges preferred against them by the prosecution. Following their pleas, the presiding trial judge adjourned the matter to February 9, 10 and 12, 2026, for definite hearing. The court also ordered that the defendants be remanded at the Kuje Correctional Facility pending the commencement of trial.
The decision to allocate three consecutive days for the hearing is seen by legal observers as a deliberate move by the court to ensure that the matter is handled expeditiously and without unnecessary delays, particularly given the gravity of the allegations and the intense public interest surrounding the case.
Reacting to the development, Najib Usman described the court’s scheduling of the case as an indication of judicial commitment to speedy justice. In a post on X, he welcomed the decision, noting that it reflected the resolve of both the court and counsel involved to prosecute the matter diligently.
“From my end, I am happy that the court has slated three days straight for the hearing. This shows the resolve of the court and counsel to prosecute the matter swiftly and diligently,” he wrote.
The prosecution is expected to open its case on the adjourned dates, while the defendants will remain in custody at the Kuje Correctional Facility until the trial formally begins.
The killing of Somtochukwu Maduagwu on September 29, 2025, sparked outrage across the country, particularly within the media community, and renewed debates about the worsening security situation in the Federal Capital Territory. The incident also raised fresh concerns about the safety of residents in supposedly secure gated estates within Abuja.
Maduagwu, a presenter and anchor with Arise News, was killed during an armed robbery attack at Unique Apartments, Katampe Extension, Abuja. During the attack, a security guard at the estate, Barnabas Danlami, was shot dead by the assailants.
According to police accounts, the attackers gained access to the estate in the early hours of the day and opened fire while carrying out the robbery. In an attempt to escape the attackers, Maduagwu reportedly jumped from the window of her apartment, sustaining severe injuries. She was rushed for medical attention but later succumbed to her injuries.
The tragic circumstances of her death triggered an outpouring of grief and condemnation from colleagues, civil society organisations and members of the public, many of whom demanded swift justice and improved security measures across the FCT.
In the weeks following the incident, the Nigeria Police Force intensified investigations into the attack. In October 2025, the FCT Police Command announced that it had arrested 12 suspects in connection with the crime. The police also revealed that the armed gang responsible for the attack had sourced their weapons from a supplier based in the Niger Republic, a disclosure that further heightened concerns over the proliferation of illegal firearms and cross border criminal networks.
In a statement issued at the time, the FCT Police Command spokesperson, SP Josephine Adeh, confirmed the arrests and assured the public that efforts were ongoing to dismantle the criminal network behind the attack. She said the investigation had uncovered links between the suspects and other criminal activities within and outside the territory.
The suspects earlier paraded by the police were named as Shamsudeen Hassan, Hassan Isah aged 22, Abubakar Alkamu aged 27, Sani Sirajo aged 20, Mashkur Jamilu aged 28, Suleiman Badamasi aged 21, Abdulsalam Saleh, Zaharadeen Muhammad aged 23, Musa Adamu aged 30, Sumayya Mohammed aged 27, Isah Abdulrahman aged 25, and Musa Umar aged 31.
While twelve suspects were initially arrested, eleven were arraigned on Wednesday based on the amended charges now before the court. The circumstances surrounding the exclusion of one suspect from the current arraignment were not immediately clarified at the hearing.
The amended charges are understood to have broadened the scope of allegations against the defendants, incorporating claims of armed robbery attacks on other residents of the estate in addition to the murder charges. Legal analysts say this expansion reflects the outcome of ongoing investigations and the prosecution’s intention to present a more comprehensive case.
The case is one of several high profile criminal matters currently before courts in the Federal Capital Territory. However, it has attracted particular attention due to the victim’s status as a prominent television journalist and the broader implications for public safety and press freedom.
Observers are closely monitoring the proceedings to see how the court navigates the complex issues involved, including the seriousness of the charges, the rights of the defendants and the expectations of a public demanding accountability.
As the trial dates approach, calls have continued from media organisations and civil society groups for justice to be served and for concrete steps to be taken to prevent similar incidents in the future. For many, the case has become a symbol of the urgent need to address insecurity in Abuja and across the country.
The outcome of the trial is expected to have significant legal and social implications, not only for the families of the victims but also for broader efforts to strengthen security and uphold the rule of law in the Federal Capital Territory.
