Four defendants linked to notorious terrorist kingpin, Bello Turji on Monday pleaded not guilty to terrorism-related charges preferred against them by the Federal Government.

The defendants, Musa Muhammad Kamarawa; Abubakar Hashimu, a.k.a. Doctor; Samuel Chinedu; and Lucky Chukwuma, are the 1st, 2nd, 4th, and 5th defendants in a case instituted against eight defendants and filed on December 16 by Director, Department of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, M.B. Abubakar.

Three other defendants, Bello Turji (6th), Aminu Muhammad (7th), and Sani Lawal (8th), are all currently at large.

The defendants are being prosecuted on 11 count charges before Justice Emeka Nwite of a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja.

When the case came up for hearing on Monday, the 1st, 2nd, 4th, and 5th defendants pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to them.

However, the whereabouts of the 3rd defendant, Bashir Abdullahi, became a matter of contention shortly after the court registrar called the case and only four defendants were in court.

Justice Nwite demanded to know the whereabouts of the 3rd defendant.

Responding, David Kaswe, who appeared for the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Lateef Fagbemi SAN, told the court that Abdullahi was also at large.

Acknowledging the mistake, Kaswe apologised to the court.

The prosecuting counsel therefore sought the leave of the court to enter “at large” for Abdullahi, and the judge granted the oral application.

The Federal Government through the AGF is prosecuting the eight defendants in the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CR/633/2024.

The Sun Nigeria