Four individuals connected to the notorious bandit leader Bello Turji appeared before a Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday where they pleaded not guilty to terrorism-related charges.
The suspects—Musa Muhammad Kamarawa, Abubakar Hashimu (a.k.a. Doctor), Samuel Chinedu and Lucky Chukwuma—faced an 11-count charge brought against them by the Federal Government.
Justice Emeka Nwite presided over the case, during which the defendants denied their involvement in the alleged acts of terrorism.
According to the charge sheet filed by the office of the attorney-general of the federation (AGF) and signed by M.B. Abubakar, director of the Department of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, the case includes eight defendants. However, only four suspects were present in court, while the remaining—Bello Turji, Bashir Abdullahi Aminu Muhammad and Sani Lawal—were declared at large.
While Kamarawa, Hashimu, Chinedu and Chukwuma are listed as the first, second, fourth, and fifth defendants, Turji and three others remain fugitives, designated as the third, sixth, seventh, and eighth defendants.
