On Monday, four individuals connected to the infamous terrorist leader Bello Turji pleaded not guilty to terrorism charges filed by the Federal Government. The accused—Musa Muhammad Kamarawa, Abubakar Hashimu (also known as Doctor), Samuel Chinedu, and Lucky Chukwuma—denied the 11 counts against them during their appearance before Justice Emeka Nwite at a Federal High Court in Abuja.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) previously reported that while eight defendants were named in the charges, three of them, including Bello Turji, remain at large. When the case was called in court, only four defendants were present. Justice Nwite inquired about the 3rd defendant, Bashir Abdullahi, and David Kaswe, representing the Attorney-General of the Federation, informed the court that Abdullahi was also at large. Kaswe acknowledged the oversight and requested the court to note Abdullahi’s status as “at large,” which the judge approved.
The Federal Government had filed an 11-count charge against eight defendants, four of whom remain at large. The charges, dated December 16 and submitted by M.B. Abubakar from the Department of Public Prosecutions, named Musa Muhammad Kamarawa, Abubakar Hashimu (alias Doctor), Samuel Chinedu, and Lucky Chukwuma as the 1st, 2nd, 4th, and 5th defendants, respectively.
Bashir Abdullahi, Bello Turji, Aminu Muhammad, and Sani Lawal, who are currently at large, are designated as the 3rd, 6th, 7th, and 8th defendants in the case.