The Federal High Court, Abuja Monday ordered that four terrorists with connections to notorious bandit kingpin Bello Turji be remanded in Kuje Correctional Centre.
Justice Emeka Nwite issued this ruling after the defendants pleaded not guilty to 11 terrorism-related charges. The case has been adjourned until February 10 for trial.
The four suspects; Musa Muhammad Kamarawa, Abubakar Hashimu, also known as “Doctor”; Samuel Chinedu, and Lucky Chukwuma denied their involvement in the offenses when the 11 charges were read to them.
Although eight defendants were named in the charge sheet, only four appeared in court, while three others, including Bello Turji, remain at large.
READ ALSO:FG arraigns five terrorists from Turji’s camp in court
Following the call of the case, Justice Nwite inquired about the whereabouts of Bashir Abdullahi, the third defendant. David Kaswe, representing the Attorney-General of the Federation, AGF, informed the court that Abdullahi was also at large.
Kaswe admitted to an oversight in the case documents, acknowledged the mistake and apologized to the court, then sought the judge’s permission to mark Abdullahi as “at large,” which was granted.
The AGF, through the office of the Attorney-General, filed an 11-count charge labeled FHC/ABJ/CR/633/2024 on December 16. Musa Muhammad Kamarawa, Abubakar Hashimu, also known as “Doctor,” Samuel Chinedu, and Lucky Chukwuma were named as the 1st, 2nd, 4th, and 5th defendants, while Bashir Abdullahi, Bello Turji, Aminu Muhammad, and Sani Lawal who remain at large are listed as the 3rd, 6th, 7th, and 8th defendants.
Kaswe confirmed the defendants were properly served with the charges and that the arraignment could proceed. He requested the court to read the charges to the defendants.
However, A.M. Lukman, representing Kamarawa, Hashimu, and Chinedu, raised a preliminary objection regarding the court’s territorial jurisdiction. Justice Nwite questioned the objection, but Kaswe opposed it, arguing that the application was not yet ripe for hearing. The judge agreed with Kaswe, and the charges were read to the defendants.
During the reading of the charges, Hashimu, also known as “Doctor,” informed the court that he did not understand English. As a result, the charges were read in both English and Hausa to ensure all defendants understood the allegations before entering their pleas.
The first count accuses Kamarawa, Hashimu, Abdullahi, Chinedu, Chukwuma, Bello Turji, at large, Aminu Muhammad, at large, and Sani Lawal, at large, of conspiring to commit terrorism between 2018 and 2022 in Sokoto State.
They are alleged to have provided material support to terrorist groups, including procuring and supplying illicit drugs, food items, military uniforms, camouflage, and construction materials such as cement and zinc to terrorist camps in the forests of Zamfara, Sokoto, and Kaduna States.
This offense is punishable under Section 17 of the Terrorism, Prevention, Amendment, Act 2013.
The charges, dated and filed on Dec. 16 by M.B. Abubakar, Director of the Department of Public Prosecutions, list Musa Muhammad Kamarawa, Abubakar Hashimu, Samuel Chinedu, and Lucky Chukwuma as the 1st, 2nd, 4th, and 5th defendants.
In count four, Kamarawa, Muhammad, at large, and Lawal, at large, are accused of aiding terrorism in 2021 by acquiring a military gun truck from Libya and supplying it to terrorist Kachalla Halilu for N28.5 million.
Credible News.ng
