March 14, 2025

A witness, simply identified as “ABC,” on Friday, told the Federal High Court in Abuja how the notorious bandit kingpin, Kachalla Halilu, purchased a gun truck from Niger Republic to perpetrate their terrorist act in Nigeria.

ABC, who is the 1st prosecution witness (PW-1) in the ongoing trial of four suspects also linked to fleeing bandit leader, Bello Turji, made the revelation while being led in evidence by by Federal Government’s lawyer, David Kaswe, before Justice Emeka Nwite.

The four suspected terrorists were, on Dec. 23, 2024, arraigned on 11-count bordering on terrorism by the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF).

The suspects; Musa Kamarawa; Abubakar Hashimu, a.k.a. Doctor; Samuel Chinedu and Lucky Chukwuma, however, pleaded not guilty to the counts and the judge ordered their remand in Kuje Correctional Correctional Centre pending the hearing and determination of their bail plea.

Justice Nwite rejected their bail applications and ordered an accelerated hearing of their trial.

Besides, the judge granted an ex-parte motion moved by Kaswe, seeking the protection of the witnesses and identifying them with pseudo names.

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 Dec. 16, 2024, 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 3rd, 6th, 7th and 8th 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 terrorists 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.

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.

Giving his testimony on Friday in Hausa Language while being interireted, the PW-1 said out of the four suspects in the dock, he only knew Musa Kamarawa who he called his childhood friend.
“Sometimes between 2021 and 2022, Musa is my childhood friend.

He called me on phone and told me that he wants me to accompany him to Kano for the wedding fathia (ceremony) of the daughter of DSS director of Sokoto Command.
“I prepared myself on Friday and I met him in his house. When I went to his house, I met him with one of his friends called Sani Lawal Jibia (8th defendant).

“Musa told me that we are going together with Sani. We used Musa’s Honda Accord 2018 Model car. Sani Jibia was the one that drove us to Isa Local Government in Sokoto State.
“We went to the local government chairman’s house and we met him in his house. (NAN)