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By: Manoah Kikekon
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| Bello Turji |
ABUJA — In a major boost to the Federal Government’s crackdown on banditry, a Federal High Court in Abuja has granted leave for the prosecution of five suspects linked to the notorious terror kingpin, Bello Turji, to proceed in their absence.
Justice Emeka Nwite issued the order on Tuesday following an application by the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF). The move follows the repeated failure of the defendants to appear for trial, despite a standing bench warrant for their arrest issued earlier this year.
The defendants, identified as Musa Muhammed Kamarawa, Abubakar Hashimu (alias Doctor), Bashir Abdullahi, Samuel Chinedu, and Lucky Chukwuma, are facing an 11-count terrorism charge. The Federal Government alleges these individuals formed the backbone of Turji’s logistics network, providing everything from heavy weaponry to basic survival items.
According to court documents, the suspects allegedly supplied: Military Hardware: A gun truck sourced from Libya for approximately N28.5 million. Logistics: Military and police uniforms, camouflage, boots, and building materials for forest camps. Medical Aid: Treatment for gunshot wounds sustained by Bello Turji during an attack on Tungar Kolo Village. Supplies: Illicit drugs (including cannabis and penta injections) and food items to camps across Zamfara, Sokoto, and Kaduna states.
The prosecution counsel, David Kaswe, informed the court that the defendants have remained untraceable despite multiple adjournments. Invoking Section 352(4) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015, Kaswe successfully argued that the trial must proceed to ensure justice is not derailed by the suspects' evasion.
The case has seen a turbulent timeline. It was initially struck out in July 2025 due to a lack of diligent prosecution when the lead counsel was on an official assignment abroad. However, it was re-listed in December 2025 after the Federal Government filed a meritorious application to reopen the terrorism charges.
"We have been unable to trace the defendants... today makes the third time without the defendants appearing in court," Kaswe stated while moving the oral application for the trial to continue in absentia.
The charge sheet paints a grim picture of the sophisticated supply chain fueling insecurity in Northern Nigeria. Beyond the five immediate defendants, the charge includes Bello Turji himself, along with Aminu Muhammad and Sani Lawal, who all remain at large.
Testimony from a protected witness earlier in the trial detailed how childhood friendships were exploited to facilitate the purchase of high-grade military equipment from neighboring Niger Republic and Libya.
Justice Nwite has adjourned the matter until April 13, 2026, for the continuation of the trial. This ruling sends a clear signal that the Nigerian judiciary is prepared to bypass stall tactics in high-profile national security cases.