The Federal Government on Monday arraigned four suspected terrorists linked to notorious bandit leader, Bello Turji, at the Federal High Court, Abuja.
The quartet – Musa Muhammad Kamarawa, Abubakar Hashimu, aka Doctor, Samuel Chinedu and Lucky Chukwuma – were arraigned on an 11-count charge of terrorism before a vacation judge, Justice Emeka Nwite.
The judge in a short ruling ordered that the defendants be remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre in Abuja.
He adjourned the matter till February 10, 2025, for trial.
The defendants, however, denied their involvement in the offences.
The Federal Government had listed eight defendants for trial.
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But three of them, including Bello Turji, were at large.
However, shortly after the court registrar called the case, only four defendants were in court.
Justice Nwite then asked about the whereabouts of Bashir Abdullahi, who is the 3rd defendant.
A lawyer, David Kaswe, who appeared for the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), told the court that Abdullahi was also at large.
He acknowledged the mistake and apologised to the court.
The lawyer, therefore, sought the leave of the court to enter “at large” for Abdullahi and the judge granted the oral application after it was not opposed by the defence lawyers.
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