Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja has rejected the bail applications of four suspects allegedly connected to notorious bandit kingpin, Bello Turji. The court ruled that releasing them would pose a significant risk to national security.
In a landmark decision, Justice Nwite agreed with the prosecution, led by the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), emphasizing that while bail is a discretionary power, it must be used carefully and responsibly. Prosecuting counsel David Kaswe argued that granting bail could allow the suspects to flee or interfere with the trial process.
The court also granted an ex-parte motion to protect witnesses, allowing the trial to begin immediately. The prosecution had previously stated that the defendants played key roles in the terrorism activities carried out by Bello Turji in northern Nigeria.
Kaswe argued that national security concerns outweighed the defendants’ right to bail, particularly due to the strong evidence against them. He also pointed out that some co-defendants, including Turji himself, are still at large and continuing to threaten innocent lives.
Justice Nwite acknowledged that the Nigerian Constitution presumes individuals innocent until proven guilty but stressed the need to weigh the seriousness of the charges and the ongoing security threats. Consequently, he ruled against granting bail and ordered an expedited hearing of the trial.
The trial will begin immediately, with the prosecution ready to present strong evidence against the accused. Authorities remain on high alert as they continue to search for other members of Turji’s network.