A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has ordered the arrest of four defendants standing trial over alleged links to fugitive terrorist kingpin Bello Turji, after they failed to attend court proceedings.
Justice Emeka Nwite issued the bench warrants on Wednesday after the prosecution, led by Mr David Kaswe, applied orally for their arrest due to their absence from court. The defendants are Musa Kamarawa, Abubakar Hashimu, also known as Doctor, Samuel Chinedu and Lucky Chukwuma.
Their lawyer, A.M. Lukman, told the court that the first defendant had assured him that all the accused would be present. He expressed surprise when none of them appeared for the continuation of trial.
Mr Kaswe informed the court that the prosecution was ready to proceed and had brought its witnesses, prompting the judge to grant the application for bench warrants. The matter was adjourned to 24 February.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the trial follows the reopening of an 11-count terrorism charge earlier struck out in July 2025 for want of diligent prosecution. The charges were reinstated by the court in December 2025.
The Federal Government alleges that the defendants provided material support to terrorist groups led by Bello Turji and other bandit leaders, including the supply of drugs, food, military uniforms and construction materials to camps located in northern Nigeria.
One of the charges alleges that the defendants aided the purchase of a military gun truck for a known terrorist at a cost of about ₦28.5 million, while another accuses them of providing medical treatment and shelter to Turji following a violent attack in Zamfara State.
Bello Turji and three other suspects named in the charge are still at large. The defendants currently before the court have pleaded not guilty to all allegations under the Terrorism (Prevention) (Amendment) Act 2013.
