Metro

Court Dismisses Four Bello Turji‘s Associates Bail Application

Published

10 months ago

March 14, 2025

The Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday, dismissed the bail applications filed by four suspects linked to notorious bandit kingpin, Bello Turji.

Justice Emeka Nwite, in a ruling, held that the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), who is the prosecution of the charge, had made a compelling case against the defendants that releasing them would be a great threat to the nation’s national security.

Justice Nwite agreed with the arguments of counsel to the AGF, David Kaswe, that though granting bail is at the discretion of the court, this decision must be exercised judicially and judiciously.

Justice Nwite, who granted an accelerated hearing of their trial, however, dismissed the bail plea.
The judge equally granted an ex-parte motion moved by Kaswe, seeking the protection of the witnesses as the trial commences immediately.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Kaswe, on Feb. 10, had argued that the defendants, if granted bail, might abscond.

The lawyer submitted that there was contending evidence that the defendants played significant roles in the terrorism activities led by Bello Turji in the northern part of the country.

He said if granted bail, the defendants might interfere with the evidence.

He argued that bail is not an absolute right, particularly when it borders on national security.

He said in considering bail applications, the court should equally consider the nature of the charge, the severity of the punishment, among other factors.
He said the character of the evidence against the defendants was very strong, as they are being charged with terrorism offences.

The lawyer urged the court to take judicial notice that some other members of the group listed as defendants were still at large.

He said, “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.”

Delivering the ruling, Justice Nwite said he was not unmindful of the constitution that a person charged with criminal offence is innocent until proven guilty.

The judge, however, said that all facts had to be considered.
NAN reports that 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 February 10 for trial.

NAN reports that the four suspects, Musa Kamarawa; Abubakar Hashimu, a.k.a. Doctor, Samuel Chinedu and Lucky Chukwuma, denied their involvement in the offences with which they were charged when the 11 counts were read to them.

Although 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.

NAN reports that the FG, through the office of the AGF, had filed the 11-count charge marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/633/2024 against the eight defendants, four of who are at large.

In the charge filed on December 16, by M.B. Abubakar, Director, Department of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, Musa Muhammad Kamarawa; Abubakar Hashimu, a.k.a. Doctor; Samuel Chinedu and Lucky Chukwuma were sued as 1st, 2nd, 4th and 5th defendants.

While Bashir Abdullahi, Bello Turji, Aminu Muhammad and Sani Lawal, who are all at large, are sued as third, sixth, seventh and eighth defendants respectively.

In count one, Musa Kamarawa; Abubakar Hashimu, aka Doctor; Bashir Abdullahi; Samuel Chinedu; Lucky Chukwuma; Bello Turji (at large); Aminu Muhammad (at large) and Sani Lawal (at large), sometime between 2018 and 2022 in Sokoto State, were alleged to have conspired among themselves to commit the terror act.

They were alleged to have provided material services to terrorist groups led by Turji, Kachalla Halilu, Danbokolo, Lawali, Atarwatse, Buderi and others, by procuring and supplying illicit drugs, including penta injections and cannabis plants (aka indian hemp); food items; military and police uniforms, camouflage.

They were also alleged to have supplied boots, caps and building materials, including bags of cement, cover zinc, bags of nails, M.M. iron rod, etc., to terrorist camps in the forests located in Zamfara, Sokoto and Kaduna States.

The offence is said to be contrary to Section 17 of the Terrorism (Prevention) (Amendment) Act 2013 and punishable under the same section of the Act.

In count four, Kamarawa, Muhammad (at large) and Lawal (at large), sometime in 2021 in Sokoto State, allegedly aided and abetted the commission of acts of terrorism by acquiring a military gun truck from Libya and supplying same to a terrorist, Kachalla Halilu, at a cost of approximately N28.5 million (28,500,000).

They were alleged to have paid for the gun truck partly in cash and partly via electronic transfer.
The offence, the federal government said, is

Contrary to Section 18 (a) of the Terrorism (Prevention) (Amendment) Act 2013 and punishable under the same section of the Act,” the count read in part.

The offence, the prosecution also said is contrary to Section 8 (1) (b) of the Terrorism (Prevention) (Amendment) Act 2013 and punishable under the same section of the Act.

(NAN)

Metro

Edo: Man In Police Net For Allegedly Killing Abroad Returnee

Published

21 hours ago

December 28, 2025

Editor

The Edo State Police Command has arrested a suspect identified as Amadin William, for allegedly killing a 43-year-old Eghosa Osaikhuowuomwan, popularly known as Didi
in Oben community, Orhionmwon Local Government Area of the state.

Osaikhuowuomwan, who reportedly resides abroad was in his community to celebrate the Christmas and New Year where he was killed by the suspect.

The command’s spokesperson, Eno Ikoedem, who confirmed the incident, said the deceased went to attend a house warming party in the community on December 22, 2025, and in the process he (the deceased) excused himself to defecate where the suspect trailed him with matchett and machetted him in the neck.

Ikoedem, who said the deceased bled in the process and was confirmed dead in the hospital, adding that the deceased younger sister , Endurance Efe thereafter reported the incident to the police on December 23 2025.

She stressed that after the incident was reported to the police, the police started tracking the suspect, adding that he was eventually arrested in Benin City on December 27, 2025.

Ikoedem, who could not confirm if the deceased was an abroad returnee as claimed, noted: “The incident was reported on the 23rd of this month by the deceased edler sister named Endurance Efe.

“After giving the deceased a machete cut in the neck, the suspect fled the scene. It happened that on December 22, 2025, the deceased went for a house warning party in the community. During that party, he excused himself to defecate, and that was when the suspect came out and followed him with a machete, and gave him a cut in the neck, and he bled, and bled to death. He was actually confirmed dead at the hospital.

“The matter was reported at the police station the next day, by the deceased sister, and since then we have been tracking the suspect. He was arrested yesterday, December 27, 2025, in Benin City.”

The command’s spokesperson, while stating that the “suspect is currently in custody,” added that “but he is not the only one in custody. Two other persons were also arrested for arson.”

“Following the incident, hoodlums suspected to be from the victim’s family set ablaze the house of the suspect’s father and the community banner, for which two suspects—Prince Nosa ‘m’ aged 25 and Sunday Ogedegbe ‘m’ aged 30 were arrested and are in custody for Arson,” she said.

Metro

Obaseki Beaten, Stripped In Edo

Published

1 day ago

December 28, 2025

Editor

Don Pedro Obaseki, a cousin to a former governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki, has been beaten and stripped by suspected thugs.

Pedro Obaseki was attacked at Uwa Primary School where he went to play football.

In a viral video, Pedro Obaseki, was seen kneeling at the Oba of Benin Palace gate.

The suspected thugs told the palace guards that they brought an Oghion(enemy) of Oba, as Pedro Obaseki was made to kneel down.

Metro

My Wife Started Bringing Home Her Lovers After She Sent Me, My First Wife Packing —Husband

Published

2 days ago

December 27, 2025

Editor

…He must give our child N30,000 monthly for food if he’s insisting on divorce —Wife

A man, Abass, has approached Grade A Customary Court, Court 2, sitting at Mapo, Ibadan, Oyo State, to seek that it dissolve the union between him and his wife, Bolaji, on the grounds of disobedience, adultery and threat to his life by the latter.

Abass stated that Bolaji was troublesome and made their home non-conducive for him and his first wife.

Abass also said that he almost lost his job after Bolaji extended her unruly behaviour to his office, where she came to fight him and turned the whole premises upside down.

According to him, the timely intervention of the police saved the situation.

The plaintiff added further that Bolaji sent his first wife packing, while he also moved out of their house a few months after this when it became obvious she was bent on snuffing life out of him.

Abass explained that Bolaji threw caution in the air immediately he moved out of the house and started bringing her lovers into the house.

These men, he stated, did spend the night with her.

The plaintiff said he went home early one morning and saw the defendant seeing one of them off.

Abass told the court he has had enough of his wife’s atrocities and thus prayed for the dissolution of their union.

According to the plaintiff, the defendant took to threatening him since he dragged her to court.

Bolaji refused that their union be dissolved, giving the welfare of the only child produced by their union as excuse.

Abass in his testimony said, “Bolaji and I met in 2019 and I paid her bride price.

“I already had a wife when I met her, and the three of us were living together after she moved in with me.

“Bolaji started misbehaving early in our marriage.

“She was always at loggerheads with my first wife; she showed no regard for her and sought every opportunity to fight her.

“Any time I tried to caution her, she would flare up and accuse me of taking sides with her rival.

“Peace deserted us in the home because Bolaji made it hell to live in.

“Bolaji fought me and my first wife on regular basis.

“I almost lost my job when she came to my office to fight me.

“It took the intervention of the policemen before sanity could be restored.

“The embarrassment and shame he exposed me to have not left me till date.

“Bolaji made my first wife life so miserable that she packed her belongings and moved out of the house.

“I saw hell in the few months I was left alone with Bolaji; she almost snuffed life out of me.

“I had no choice than to move out our house.

“Bolaji threw caution in the air immediately I left our home.

“She started dating other men and even had the audacity to bring them into our home.

“These men normally spent the night with her.

“I decided to visit home one faithful day very early in the morning and I saw her seeing one of her lovers off.

“My lord, I can no longer tolerate Bolaji’s loose and indecent lifestyle.

“She now threatens and swears to make my life miserable and unbearable.

“I pray this honourable court to rule that we are no longer husband and wife.

“I in addition request an order restricting her from threatening me.”

Bolaji responded, “My lord, he lied that he paid my bride price.

“We did not hold any marital rites, neither was I handed over to him by my parents.

“I do not agree to divorce because of our child’s welfare.

“I have a child from my first marriage and do not want our child’s fate to be like that of my first child.

“But if the court eventually dissolves our marriage, I plead that it mandates my husband to give me N30, 000 every month for our child’s feeding.”

The court president, Mrs O.E. Owoseni, gave her judgement after she had heard both parties state that the plaintiff did not cross-examine the defendant in respect of non-payment of bride price and subsequent handing over to him as wife.

Owoseni stated that he has by implication admitted that he did not pay bride price nor was handed over to him as wife.

She added that the ingredients validating marriage under customary law was absent, which meant that they were never married, but merely cohabiting.

Consequently, there was no marriage to be dissolved.

Owoseni further stated that since the plaintiff was no longer interested in cohabiting with the defendant, both parties were, therefore, ordered to go their different ways.

She also explained that based on the unchallenged evidence that the defendant was fond of fighting and causing trouble, the defendant was restrained from harassing, threatening, disturbing and or interfering with the plaintiff’s private life.

The defendant was granted custody of their child, while the plaintiff was given reasonable access to him.

The plaintiff was ordered to pay N30,000 monthly to the defendant for their child’s upkeep.