The Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday issued a bench warrant for the arrest of four suspects linked to notorious terrorist kingpin Bello Turji after they failed to appear in court to stand trial.
Justice Emeka Nwite made the order following an oral application by counsel for the Federal Government, David Kaswe, after the defendants were absent when the case was called.
The suspects are Musa Kamarawa, Abubakar Hashimu (also known as Doctor), Samuel Chinedu, and Lucky Chukwuma.
When the matter came up for continuation of trial, none of the four defendants was present in court.
Justice Nwite queried their counsel, A.M. Lukman, on their whereabouts.
Lukman told the court that he had earlier contacted the first defendant, Kamarawa, who assured him he would be in court, adding that he was surprised by their absence.
Kaswe informed the court that the prosecution and its witnesses were present and ready to proceed, as earlier promised.
He therefore applied for a bench warrant to compel the appearance of the defendants.
Justice Nwite granted the application and adjourned the matter till February 24 for continuation of trial.
Recall that Justice Nwite had, on December 22, 2025, granted the Federal Government’s application to relist the terrorism charge after it was earlier struck out.
The charge, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/633/2024, was reinstated after the prosecution convinced the court that the application was meritorious.
The case had initially been struck out on July 8, 2025, following an oral application by defence counsel citing lack of diligent prosecution, after the prosecution failed to appear in court on multiple occasions.
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 charge, filed on December 16, 2024, by the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, M.B. Abubakar, listed Musa Muhammed Kamarawa, Abubakar Hashimu (Doctor), Bashir Abdullahi, Samuel Chinedu, and Lucky Chukwuma, as the 1st to 5th defendants, while Bello Turji, Aminu Muhammad, and Sani Lawal were listed as 6th to 8th defendants, all currently at large.
The suspects were accused of providing material support to terrorist groups led by Turji and other bandit leaders operating across Zamfara, Sokoto and Kaduna States.
The alleged support 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
• Supplying illicit drugs, including penta injections and cannabis
The offences are said to be contrary to Sections 17 and 18 of the Terrorism (Prevention) (Amendment) Act, 2013.
In one of the counts, the prosecution alleged that Kamarawa and two suspects now at large aided terrorists by acquiring a military gun truck from Libya in 2021 at a cost of about ₦28.5m, which was supplied to bandit leader Kachalla Halilu.
Another count alleged that Kamarawa, Hashimu and Abdullahi provided medical treatment, shelter and wound care to Bello Turji after a deadly 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.
On March 14, 2025, the court rejected their bail applications, granted witness protection and allowed the prosecution to open its case.
The first prosecution witness, identified as “ABC” for security reasons, testified that Kamarawa assisted in procuring a gun truck for terrorists.
However, repeated absence of the lead prosecutor later stalled proceedings, eventually leading to the case being struck out before it was reinstated.