Four suspects linked to the notorious terrorist kingpin, Bello Turji, on Monday pleaded not guilty to the charge preferred against them by the federal government bordering on alleged terrorism.

Musa Muhammad Kamarawa, Abubakar Hashimu, aka Doctor, Samuel Chinedu, and Lucky Chukwuma, —the suspects—denied committing terrorist acts before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Abuja Division fo the Federal High Court, when the 11 counts were read to them.

Though eight defendants were listed on the face of the charge, three of them, including Bello Turji, were at large. Shortly after the court registrar called the case, only four defendants were in court.

Mr Nwite then asked about the whereabouts of Bashir Abdullahi, who is the third defendant.

David Kaswe, who appeared for the attorney general of the federation, told the court that Mr Abdullahi was also at large. Mr Kaswe, who acknowledged the mistake, apologised to the court.

The lawyer, therefore, sought the leave of the court to enter “at large” for Mr Abdullahi and the judge granted the oral application.

The federal government had filed the 11-count charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/633/2024 against the eight defendants, four of whom are at large.

In the charge dated and filed on December 16 Bashir Abdullahi, Mr Turji, Aminu Muhammad and Sani Lawal, who are all at large, are sued as third, sixth, seventh and eighth defendants, respectively.

(NAN)