Four suspects linked to the bandit leader, Bello Turji on Monday pleaded not guilty before a Federal High Court, Abuja, to terrorism charges filed against them by the federal government.
The defendants, Musa Muhammad Kamarawa, Abubakar Hashimu (also known as Doctor), Samuel Chinedu and Lucky Chukwuma denied their involvement in the alleged terrorist acts as the 11 counts were presented by the court.
However, there were eight defendants named in the charges, but three, including Bello Turji, remain at large.
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During the proceedings, Justice Emeka Nwite inquired about the absence of Bashir Abdullahi, the third defendant, to which David Kaswe, representing the attorney-general, confirmed that Abdullahi was also unaccounted for and apologized for the oversight. Consequently, the court granted a request to record Abdullahi as at large.
The charges, totaling 11 counts were filed on December 16 by the Director of Public Prosecutions, Mohammed Abubakar Babadoko.
The four defendants present in court were specifically named as the first, second, fouth and fifth defendants, while the three at large
Bashir Abdullahi, Bello Turji, and others were identified as the third, sixth, seventh and eighth defendants, respectively.
