The Federal Government, yesterday ,prayed the Federal High Court in Abuja to dismiss a bail application filed by four suspects linked to notorious bandit kingpin, Bello Turji.
Mr David Kaswe, lawyer who appeared for the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), told Justice Emeka Nwite not to grant the bail request.
Kaswe argued that the defendants were standing trial for terrorism offences.
“We refer this honourable court to Page 9, particularly Paragraph 3.2 of the written address in support of the counter affidavit,” he said.
The lawyer urged the court to take judicial notice that some other members of the group listed as defendants were still at large.
“Chief among them is the 6th defendant, Bello Turji, who continues to cause mayhem and havoc to innocent Nigerians and has become a threat to national security.”
While opposing the bail application filed by the 1st defendant (Musa Muhammad Kamarawa), Kaswe said: “in swift opposition, we filed a counter affidavit of five paragraphs deposed to by Michael Akawo. Also we have three exhibits marked as Exhibit A, Exhibit B and Exhibit C. “
“We humbly urge the court to refuse the bail application of the 1st defendant and order accelerated hearing of the case.”
The lawyer equally urged the court to dismiss the bail applications by the 2nd defendant,Abubakar Hashimu(a.k.a. Doctor), the 4th defendant, Samuel Chinedu and the 5th defendant, Lucky Chukwuma,respectively.
Earlier, A.M. Lukman, who appeared for the first and second defendants; P.I. Ezeme, who represented the fourth defendant and Abdulaziz Ibrahim, SAN, who appeared for the 5th defendant, while moving the bail applications, prayed the court to admit their clients to bail pending the hearing and determination of the charge against them.
Justice Nwite after listening to the parties adjourned the matter until March 14 for ruling on the bail request and for commencement of trial.
Justice Nwite had, on December 23, 2024, ordered the remand of the four suspected terrorists in Kuje Correctional Centre.
The judge made the order after the defendants pleaded not guilty to the 11-count charge bordering on terrorism following their arraignment.
Justice Nwite consequently adjourned the matter until Feb. 10 for trial.
The four accused denied their involvement in the offences with which they were charged when the 11 counts were read to them.
The eight defendants were listed on the face of the charge, three of them, including Bello Turji, were at large.
However, shortly after the court registrar called the case, only four defendants were in court.
Justice Nwite then asked about the whereabouts of Bashir Abdullahi, who is the third defendant.
Kaswe then told the court that Abdullahi was also at large.
The lawyer, therefore, sought the leave of the court to enter “at large” for Abdullahi and the judge granted the oral application after it was not opposed by the defence lawyers.
