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Federal Government Arraigns Four Terrorism Suspects Linked To Notorious Zamfara Bandit Leader, Bello Turji
The Federal Government had initially filed charges against eight defendants, including Turji, who remains at large.
Abuja, Nigeria– Four individuals suspected of having ties to notorious Zamfara-based bandit leader, Bello Turji, were arraigned before the Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday, facing charges of terrorism.
The accused, identified as Musa Muhammad Kamarawa, Abubakar Hashimu (also known as Doctor), Samuel Chinedu, and Lucky Chukwuma, pleaded not guilty to the 11-count indictment, which details their alleged involvement in terrorist activities.
The Federal Government had initially filed charges against eight defendants, including Turji, who remains at large.
However, despite the charges, only the four suspects appeared in court when the case was called.
Justice Nwite inquired about the whereabouts of Bashir Abdullahi, the third defendant in the case.
David Kaswe, representing the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), informed the court that Abdullahi was also still at large.
Acknowledging the error, Kaswe apologized to the court.
He then requested the court’s permission to enter “at large” for Abdullahi, which the judge granted.
The Federal Government, through the AGF’s office, had filed an 11-count charge, labeled FHC/ABJ/CR/633/2024, against eight defendants, four of whom remain at large.
The charge, filed on December 16 by M.B. Abubakar, Director of the Department of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, lists Musa Muhammad Kamarawa, Abubakar Hashimu (a.k.a. Doctor), Samuel Chinedu, and Lucky Chukwuma as the 1st, 2nd, 4th, and 5th defendants.
However, Bashir Abdullahi, Bello Turji, Aminu Muhammad, and Sani Lawal, all at large, are named as the 3rd, 6th, 7th, and 8th defendants, respectively.