A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has ordered the remand of four suspected terrorists linked to notorious bandit kingpin, Bello Turji, in Kuje Correctional Centre in Abuja.
The trial Judge, Justice Emeka Nwite made the order in a short ruling on Monday, after the defendants pleaded not guilty to the 11-count terrorism charges slammed against them by the Federal Government and adjourned the matter till February 10, 2025, for trial.
The four suspects, Musa Muhammad Kamarawa, Abubakar Hashimu, a.k.a. Doctor, Samuel Chinedu, and Lucky Chukwuma denied their involvement in the offences with which they were charged when the 11 counts were read to them by the court registrar.
Though, eight defendants were listed on the face of the charge, three of them, including Bello Turji, were at large.
When the case was called, only four defendants were in court and Justice Nwite then asked about the whereabouts of Bashir Abdullahi, who is the 3rd defendant and
David Kaswe, who appeared for the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), told the court that Abdullahi was also at large.
Kaswe acknowledged the mistake and apologised to the court and made an oral application for leave of the court to enter “at large” for Abdullahi; an application the judge granted after it was not opposed by the defence lawyers.
The Federal Government, through the office of the AGF, had filed the 11-count charge marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/633/2024 against the eight defendants, with four of them at large.
In the charge filed on December 16, 2024 by M.B. Abubakar, Director, Department of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, Musa Muhammad Kamarawa, Abubakar Hashimu, a.k.a. Doctor, Samuel Chinedu and Lucky Chukwuma were charged as 1st, 2nd, 4th and 5th defendants, while Bashir Abdullahi, Bello Turji, Aminu Muhammad and Sani Lawal, who are all at large, are charged as 3rd, 6th, 7th and 8th defendants respectively.
At the resumed hearing, Kaswe informed the court that the matter was scheduled for arraignment of the defendants and that they were ready to proceed, adding that, the defendants had been duly served with the charge.
A.M. Lukman, who appeared for the 1st, 2nd, and 4th defendants (Kamarawa, Hashimu, and Chinedu), told the court that a preliminary objection had been filed against the charge and prayed the court to hear their objection.
Lukman said the objection is on the issue of territorial jurisdiction of the honourable court to entertain the matter.
Kaswe, who represented the AGF, opposed Lukman’s application on the ground that it was not ripe for hearing and argued that, “Counsel has just served me with the application this morning. It is not ripe for hearing my lord”.
Justice Nwite, who aligned with Kaswe’s submission, directed the charge to be read to the defendants.
Hashimu, a.k.a. Doctor, told the court that he did not understand English Language, and the counts were read in English, and Hausa to the defendants to take their plea.
After they pleaded not guilty to the counts, A.I. Mohammed, who appeared for the 5th defendant (Chukwuma), sought a short adjournment to enable them to file their clients’ bail application.
But, the judge assured them that the application would be heard as soon as they were ready.
In count one, Musa Muhammad Kamarawa, Abubakar Hashimu, aka Doctor, Bashir Abdullahi, Samuel Chinedu, Lucky Chukwuma, Bello Turji (at large), Aminu Muhammad (at large) and Sani Lawal (at large), sometime between 2018 and 2022 in Sokoto State, were alleged to have conspired among themselves to commit the terrorism act.
They were alleged to have provided material services to terrorist groups led by Turji, Kachalla Halilu, Danbokolo, Lawali, Atarwatse, Buderi, and others, by procuring and supplying illicit drugs, including penta injections and cannabis plants (aka Indian hemp), food items, military and police uniforms, camouflage.
They were also alleged to have supplied boots, caps, and building materials, including bags of cement, cover zinc, bags of nails, MM iron rods, etc., to terrorist camps in the forests located in Zamfara, Sokoto, and Kaduna States.
The offence is said to be contrary to Section 17 of the Terrorism (Prevention) (Amendment) Act 2013 and punishable under the same section of the Act.
In count four, Kamarawa, Muhammad (at large), and Lawal (at large), sometime in 2021 in Sokoto State, allegedly aided and abetted the commission of acts of terrorism by acquiring a military gun truck from Libya and supplying same to a terrorist, Kachalla Halilu, at a cost of approximately N28.5 million.
They were alleged to have paid for the gun truck partly in cash and partly via electronic transfer, which they knew or had reason to believe that the vehicle would be used by Kachalla Halilu, a known terrorist, to commit acts of terrorism.
“You thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18 (a) of the Terrorism (Prevention) (Amendment) Act 2013 and punishable under the same section of the Act,” the count read in part.
The offence is contrary to Section 8 (1) (b) of the Terrorism (Prevention) (Amendment) Act 2013 and is punishable under the same section of the Act.