By 𝔸bdulrazak Tomiwa

A Federal High Court in Abuja has granted accelerated hearing for three men accused of spying on U.S. and Israeli interests in Nigeria.

The suspects—Haruna Ali Abbas, Ibrahim Hussaini Musa, and Adam Suleiman—were arrested in 2013. Justice Emeka Nwite fast-tracked the case following a prosecution request.

A DSS witness testified that the first defendant, Haruna Ali Abbas, confessed to being recruited to spy on American and Israeli embassies and companies.

Abbas reportedly admitted to his role in the operation and detailed how he helped recruit other Nigerians for the mission.

The court heard that the defendants received specialized training from Iranian military personnel. This training allegedly included surveillance, intelligence gathering, and security protocols. Abbas’s statements also described a session at a military shooting range in Iran for weapons handling.

The prosecution argued that non-military personnel receiving clandestine foreign military training constitutes an act of terrorism. The witness noted that the training was focused on monitoring foreign diplomatic missions.

The identities of the Iranian instructors were reportedly kept secret from the trainees.

In his confession, Abbas stated his primary mission was to provide intelligence on the locations and activities of the U.S. and Israeli embassies. He was also tasked with finding trustworthy individuals to send to Iran for further training. He returned to Nigeria specifically to execute these objectives.

Separately, the court heard testimony regarding the 2022 Owo church attack, where a suspect mentioned receiving medical care while in DSS custody. The spying trial is set to resume on April 1. The proceedings highlight ongoing legal efforts to address foreign-linked security threats.