Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed the bail applications filed by four terrorism suspects linked to the wanted notorious bandit kingpin, Bello Turji.

The judge, on Friday, turned down the bail request of the suspects on the grounds that the charges against them were severe.

Ruling on the bail applications, Justice Nwite held that the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice (AGF) had established that the nature of the offences allegedly committed by the four suspects was serious.

The judge also ruled that the likelihood of tampering with evidence, interfering with witnesses, and committing further offences had been carefully established against them.

The suspects denied bail are Musa Kamarawa, Abubakar Hashimu (a.k.a. Doctor), Samuel Chinedu, and Lucky Chukwuma, who were alleged to have aided and abetted the bandit group led by Bello Turji.

The federal government had slammed 11-count terrorism charges against them, which they denied.

Justice Nwite had, on December 23, 2024, ordered their remand in Kuje prison pending the completion of their trial.

In count one, Musa Kamarawa, Abubakar Hashimu (a.k.a. Doctor), Bashir Abdullahi, Samuel Chinedu, Lucky Chukwuma, Bello Turji (at large), Aminu Muhammad (at large), and Sani Lawal (at large) were alleged to have, sometime between 2018 and 2022 in Sokoto State, conspired among themselves to commit acts of terrorism.

They were alleged to have provided material services to terrorist groups led by Turji, Kachalla Halilu, Danbokolo, Lawali, Atarwatse, Buderi, and others by procuring and supplying illicit drugs, including penta injections and cannabis plants (a.k.a. Indian hemp), food items, military and police uniforms, and camouflage.

They were also alleged to have supplied boots, caps, and building materials, including bags of cement, roofing sheets, bags of nails, and M.M. iron rods, to terrorist camps in forests located in Zamfara, Sokoto, and Kaduna states.

The offence is said to be contrary to Section 17 of the Terrorism (Prevention) (Amendment) Act 2013 and punishable under the same section of the Act.

In count four, Kamarawa, Muhammad (at large), and Lawal (at large), sometime in 2021 in Sokoto State, allegedly aided and abetted the commission of acts of terrorism by acquiring a military gun truck from Libya and supplying it to a terrorist, Kachalla Halilu, at a cost of approximately N28.5 million.

They were alleged to have paid for the gun truck partly in cash and partly via electronic transfer.

The offence, the federal government said, is contrary to Section 18 (a) of the Terrorism (Prevention) (Amendment) Act 2013 and punishable under the same section of the Act.

The prosecution also stated that the offence is contrary to Section 8 (1) (b) of the Terrorism (Prevention) (Amendment) Act 2013 and punishable under the same section of the Act.

The federal government, through the AGF’s office, had filed the 11-count charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/633/2024 against eight defendants, four of whom were said to be at large.

In the charge filed on December 16 by Mohammed Abubakar, Director of the Department of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, Musa Muhammad Kamarawa, Abubakar Hashimu (a.k.a. Doctor), Samuel Chinedu, and Lucky Chukwuma were charged as the 1st, 2nd, 4th, and 5th defendants.