… Plead Not Guilty
By Divine Sam
On Monday, four suspects linked to the notorious terrorist kingpin, Bello Turji, appeared before Justice Emeka Nwite at the Federal High Court in Abuja, where they pleaded not guilty to charges of terrorism. The suspects—Musa Muhammad Kamarawa, Abubakar Hashimu (also known as Doctor), Samuel Chinedu, and Lucky Chukwuma—denied the allegations in an 11-count charge filed by the Federal Government.
The charge, which was read out in court, outlines accusations of involvement in terrorism, including attacks on security forces and civilians in northern Nigeria. The case, however, took an unexpected turn when only four out of the eight listed defendants appeared in court, with the remaining four—Bashir Abdullahi, Bello Turji, Aminu Muhammad, and Sani Lawal—absent.
Justice Nwite inquired about the whereabouts of the missing defendants, particularly Abdullahi, the third defendant. David Kaswe, the representative for the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), confirmed that Abdullahi, like the others, was at large. He apologized for the absence and requested permission to enter an “at-large” plea for Abdullahi, which the court granted.
The 11-count charge, filed by the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, M.B. Abubakar, accuses the suspects of being involved in a wide array of terrorist activities, including kidnapping, armed robbery, and attacks on military and police personnel. The charge is marked as FHC/ABJ/CR/633/2024, and the trial continues with the four suspects currently in custody. The court proceedings highlight the ongoing effort by Nigerian authorities to dismantle terrorist networks operating in the country, particularly those affiliated with figures like Bello Turji, a notorious bandit leader in the northwest region.
The case is set to continue with further legal proceedings, while authorities intensify efforts to apprehend the remaining suspects.
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