The Federal High Court Justice Abuja has rejected the bail application for four suspects linked to the infamous gangster Bello Turji. The court ruled that their release would pose a serious threat to national security.
In a landmark ruling, the Justice headed by the Federal Attorney General (AGF) agreed to the prosecution, noting that while bail is at the discretion of the court, it must be exercised judicially and wisely. Prosecutor’s attorney David Kaswe argued that granting bail could allow the suspect to abscond or interfere with the trial process.
The court also approved a former party motion to protect witnesses from beginning immediately. The prosecution earlier argued that the defendant played a major role in Bello Turji’s terrorist activities planned in northern Nigeria.
According to Casway, national security involves the defendant’s right to bail, especially considering strong evidence. He stressed that the allegations involved severe penalties, and that some of the co-defendants, including Bello Turji himself, remain large and continue to endanger innocent lives.
The NWITE judge acknowledged that the Nigerian Constitution assumes that individuals are innocent until proven guilty, but insists that all facts must be carefully weighed. In view of the seriousness of the allegations and ongoing security threats, the judge ruled bail while ordering an accelerated trial.
The trial will begin immediately and the prosecution is expected to present a large amount of evidence against the defendant. The authorities remained alert as efforts continued to track other members of the Tuli network.
