Nigeria, July 20 -- The defendants, also known as Mahmud Al-Nigeri and Abu Baraa, admitted to charges that include coordinating sleeper cells, planning terrorist attacks, and maintaining operational links with extremist groups across the Sahel and Maghreb regions.

They changed their pleas from not guilty to guilty during proceedings before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja.

The court recalled that at the previous sitting, both defendants had indicated their intention to change their pleas.

At their initial arraignment, Mahmud Usman pleaded guilty to a single count of illegal mining to finance terrorism and procure arms. He was subsequently convicted and sentenced to 15 years imprisonment on that count but pleaded ...