Four suspects linked to the notorious terrorist kingpin, Bello Turji, have pleaded not guilty to the charge preferred against them by the Federal Government.
The trial judge, Justice Emeka Nwite, in a short ruling, ordered the remand of the alleged bandits after they took their plea.
The charges were read to them in both English and Hausa since one of the defendants Hashimu, told the court that he doesn’t understand English Language.
The defendants are standing trial on an eleven charge count bordering on terrorism preferred against them by the Attorney General of the Federation.
In the charge Musa Kamarawa, Abubakar Hashimu, a.k.a. Doctor, Bashir Abdullahi, Samuel Chinedu and Lucky Chukwuma, were listed as 1st to 5th defendants.
While Bello Turji, Aminu Muhammad and Sani Lawal are mentioned as 6th, 7th and 8th defendants respectively.
The defendants, kamarawa, Hashimu aka Doctor, Abdullahi, Chinedu, Chukwuma, Bello Turji (at large); Aminu Muhammad (at large) and Sani Lawal (at large), in count one of the charge, were said to have some time between 2018 and 2022 in Sokoto State, conspired among themselves to commit the terror act.
They were alleged to have provided material services to terrorists groups led by Turji, Kachalla Halilu, Danbokolo, Lawali, Atarwatse, Buderi and others, by procuring and supplying illicit drugs, including penta injections and cannabis plants (aka indian hemp); food items; military and police uniforms, camouflage.
They were also alleged to have supplied , boots, caps and building materials, including bags of cement, cover zinc, bags of nails, M.M. iron rod, etc., to terrorist camps in the forests located in Zamfara, Sokoto and Kaduna States.
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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 another count, Kamarawa, Muhammad (at large) and Lawal (at large), we’re said to have some time 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 same to a terrorist, Kachalla Halilu, at a cost of approximately N28.5 million (28,500,000).
They were alleged to have paid for the gun truck partly in cash and partly via electronic transfer.
The FG accused them of knowing the reason for which the vehicle would be used by Kachalla Halilu, a known terrorist, which is to commit acts of terrorism and held that the defendants “thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18 (a) of the Terrorism (Prevention) (Amendment) Act 2013 and punishable under the same section of the Act”.
Justice Nwite afterwards, adjourned the matter until February 10 for trial.
(Editor: Paul Akhagbemhe)
