The Federal High Court in Abuja, on Tuesday, granted an application filed by the Federal Government to prosecute five suspects linked to the notorious terrorist kingpin, Bello Turji, in absentia.
Justice Emeka Nwite made the order after David Kaswe, counsel for the Attorney-General of the Federation, moved the oral application to the effect.
Upon resumed hearing in the matter, Kaswe informed the court that the matter was scheduled for continuation of trial and that in the last adjourned date, a bench warrant was issued by the court for the arrest of the defendants.
He, however, told the court that neither the defendants nor their lawyers were in court on Tuesday.
According to him, Tuesday was the third time that the defendants were not appearing in court.
He said though the order for their arrest had been obtained, “we have been unable to trace the defendants with a view to bringing them to court.”
Kaswe, citing Section 352(4) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015, applied that the defendants be tried in absentia.
“We apply that the court activate Section 352(4) of ACJA , 2015 to try the defendants in absentia,” he prayed.
Justice Nwite, who granted the application, adjourned the matter until April 13 for continuation of trial.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the judge had, on January 21, issued a bench warrant for the arrest of the five suspects standing trial, following their refusal to appear in court.
Justice Nwite made the order after Kaswe, an Assistant Director in the Federal Ministry of Justice, moved the oral application to the effect.
The development followed the absence of the defendants in court to stand their trial.
The judge then adjourned the matter until February 24 for continuation of trial.
NAN recalls that the defendants are Musa Muhammed Kamarawa, Abubakar Hashimu, a.k.a. Doctor; Bashir Abdullahi; Samuel Chinedu and Lucky Chukwuma were sued as 1st to 5th defendants.
The judge had, on December 22, 2025, granted an application filed by the Federal Government to reopen the terrorism charge filed against the five suspects.
Justice Nwite granted the application in a ruling on the motion on notice filed by Kaswe, seeking an order re-listing the charge, marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/633/2024, in the cause list of the court.
The judge held that the motion, moved by Kaswe was meritorious and adjourned the matter until Tuesday for hearing.
The charge was struck out on July 8, 2025, by the judge after the defence counsel moved an oral application to the effect for lack of diligent prosecution.
The Federal Government, through the AGF, had preferred an 11-count terrorism charge against eight defendants, including Bello Turji, who is still at large.
In the charge filed on December 16, 2024 by M.B. Abubakar, the Director of the Department of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, Musa Muhammed Kamarawa, Abubakar Hashimu, a.k.a. Doctor; Bashir Abdullahi; Samuel Chinedu and Lucky Chukwuma were sued as 1st to 5th defendants.
