The Federal High Court in Abuja has issued a bench warrant for the arrest of four suspects linked to notorious terrorist kingpin Bello Turji after they failed to appear for trial on Wednesday.
Justice Emeka Nwite granted the order following an oral application by the Federal Government’s counsel, David Kaswe, after the defendants were absent when the case was called.
The suspects include Musa Kamarawa, Abubakar Hashimu (aka Doctor), Samuel Chinedu, and Lucky Chukwuma.
When proceedings resumed, none of the defendants were present in court. Justice Nwite queried their lawyer, A.M. Lukman, regarding their absence. Lukman stated that he had contacted the first defendant, Kamarawa, who had assured him he would attend, expressing surprise at their nonappearance.
Kaswe informed the court that the prosecution and witnesses were present and ready to proceed, and consequently requested the issuance of a bench warrant to compel the defendants’ appearance.
The court granted the application and adjourned the matter to February 24 for continuation of the trial.
Recall that on December 22, 2025, Justice Nwite had approved the Federal Government’s application to relist the terrorism charges, after the case was previously struck out. The charge, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/633/2024, was reinstated following the prosecution’s argument that the application was meritorious.
The case had originally been struck out on July 8, 2025, after the defence cited repeated failure by the prosecution to appear in court.
The Federal Government, through the Attorney-General of the Federation, filed an 11-count terrorism charge against eight defendants, including Bello Turji, who remains at large. The other defendants include Musa Muhammed Kamarawa, Abubakar Hashimu (Doctor), Bashir Abdullahi, Samuel Chinedu, and Lucky Chukwuma (1st–5th defendants), with Bello Turji, Aminu Muhammad, and Sani Lawal (6th–8th defendants) also currently at large.
The accused are alleged to have provided material support to terrorist groups led by Turji and other bandits operating across Zamfara, Sokoto, and Kaduna States.
The support reportedly included:
- Supplying food items
- Providing military and police uniforms
- Procuring camouflage, boots, and caps
- Supplying building materials such as cement, zinc, nails, and iron rods
- Providing illicit drugs, including penta injections and cannabis
These acts are said to contravene Sections 17 and 18 of the Terrorism (Prevention) (Amendment) Act, 2013.
In one count, Kamarawa and two suspects now at large were alleged to have acquired a military gun truck from Libya in 2021 at a cost of approximately ₦28.5 million, which was supplied to bandit leader Kachalla Halilu. Another count claimed that Kamarawa, Hashimu, and Abdullahi provided medical care and shelter to Bello Turji after an attack on Tungar Kolo village in Zamfara State in 2018.
The four defendants were first arraigned on December 23, 2024, pleaded not guilty, and were remanded at Kuje Correctional Centre. Their bail applications were rejected on March 14, 2025, and the prosecution was allowed to begin presenting its case with witness protection granted.
The first prosecution witness, identified as “ABC” for security reasons, testified that Kamarawa assisted in procuring the gun truck for terrorists. However, the case was stalled due to repeated absences of the lead prosecutor, leading to its temporary dismissal before it was later reinstated.
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