A federal high court in Abuja has ordered the remand of four suspected terrorists linked to Bello Turji, a notorious bandit kingpin.
The suspects are Musa Kamarawa (1st defendant), Abubakar Hashimu (a.k.a. Doctor, 2nd defendant), Samuel Chinedu (4th defendant) and Lucky Chukwuma (5th defendant).
They were arraigned before Emeka Nwite, the presiding judge, on an 11-count charge bordering on terrorism, preferred against them by the attorney-general of the federation.
The other defendants — Bashir Abdullahi, Bello Turji, Aminu Muhammad, and Sani Lawal, named as the 3rd, 6th, 7th, and 8th defendants — were said to be at large.
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The prosecution alleged that between 2018 and 2022, the defendants conspired to commit acts of terrorism in Sokoto state.
They are accused of providing material support to terrorist groups led by Turji and others by supplying items such as illicit drugs, military and police uniforms, food, and building materials for terrorist camps in Zamfara, Sokoto, and Kaduna states.
In 2021, the defendants, including two who are at large, allegedly facilitated the purchase of a military gun truck from Libya for N28.5 million, which was then supplied to Kachalla Halilu, another terrorists
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The offences are said to contravene Sections 17 and 18(a) of the Terrorism (Prevention) (Amendment) Act, 2013, and are punishable under the same sections.
The defendants al pleaded not guilty to the allegations after which A.I. Mohammed, counsel to the fifth defendant (Chukwuma), requested a short adjournment to file a bail application.
The presiding judge adjourned the case to February 10 for trial and ordered that the defendants be remanded in Kuje Correctional Centre.
Earlier, A.M. Lukman, counsel for the 1st, 2nd, and 4th defendants, informed the court of a preliminary objection regarding the court’s territorial jurisdiction.
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However, Nwite ruled that the objection was not mature for hearing as the prosecution had just been served the application.
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