Abuja, Nigeria — In a stunning twist that has upended Nigeria’s already fraught counter-terrorism narrative, a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has issued a bench warrant for the arrest of Musa Kamarawa, a former aide and intermediary to Bello Matawalle, and the same man who publicly accused the Defence Minister of sponsoring notorious bandit kingpin Bello Turji.
The development has thrown the spotlight back on unresolved questions surrounding peace negotiations with bandit groups, the credibility of explosive public accusations, and the integrity of Nigeria’s counter-terrorism prosecutions.
Court Issues Bench Warrant
Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court ordered the arrest of five suspects linked to Bello Turji after they failed to appear in court to take their plea in a terrorism case re-filed by the Federal Government.
Those declared wanted include:
Musa Kamarawa
Abubakar Hashimu (aka “Doctor”)
Samuel Chinedu
Lucky Chukwuma
One other defendant listed in the charge
The court directed security agencies to produce the suspects at the next adjourned date, warning that the trial would not be stalled by deliberate absence.
From Whistleblower To Wanted Suspect
Kamarawa’s inclusion among alleged terror collaborators has ignited public controversy because of his earlier role as a key accuser in one of the most explosive security allegations of recent years.
In late 2025, Musa Kamarawa — described in multiple reports as a former aide and peace-talk intermediary under Matawalle during his tenure as Zamfara governor — surfaced in viral videos and audio recordings, accusing the Defence Minister of directly funding and empowering bandit leaders, including Bello Turji.
In those public statements, Kamarawa alleged that:
He personally delivered cash to Bello Turji on Matawalle’s instructions
Government officials provided Hilux vehicles and other material support to bandit leaders during so-called peace negotiations
Bandits were allegedly rewarded with logistics, protection, and concessions under the guise of dialogue
The claims triggered national outrage, fierce political rebuttals, and calls for investigation — but no court had, until now, placed Kamarawa himself in the dock as an alleged terror collaborator.
Bello Turji’s Direct Rebuttal
The allegations were further complicated when Bello Turji himself released a video response, sharply contradicting Kamarawa.
In widely reported remarks, Turji admitted that meetings took place during peace talks but denied receiving money or material sponsorship from Matawalle.
> “Together with Kamarawa, we met with Mr Matawalle during the peace dialogue, but I never collected money from him as claimed by Mr Kamarawa. Matawalle has never given me even ₦5 million,” Turji said.
Rejecting claims of a ₦30 million payoff, Turji added:
> “By Allah, since the day I was born, I have never owned up to five million naira… We were never given the ₦30 million being mentioned.”
He went further to accuse Kamarawa of dishonesty, declaring that the accusations were “full of lies and deceit.”
Nature Of The Charges
According to the charge sheet re-filed by the Federal Government, the defendants — including Kamarawa — are accused of providing material support to terrorist groups, contrary to the Terrorism (Prevention) (Amendment) Act, 2013.
The alleged acts include:
Supplying food, clothing, medication, and shelter to terrorists
Delivering building materials and tools to terror camps in parts of Zamfara, Sokoto, and Kaduna States
Assisting with logistics allegedly used to sustain armed bandit operations
The case was earlier struck out in mid-2025 due to what the court described as lack of diligent prosecution, but was later re-opened at the instance of the Federal Government, leading to the current proceedings.
A Damaging Contradiction
The unfolding events have exposed a troubling paradox:
A man who publicly accused the Nigerian state’s Defence Minister of sponsoring terrorism is now himself declared wanted for alleged terror collaboration.
Analysts say the development raises hard questions:
Was Kamarawa a genuine whistleblower, a compromised intermediary, or both?
Were the peace-talk structures with bandits deeply flawed and poorly documented?
Why did explosive allegations dominate public discourse while key actors now face criminal warrants?
What Comes Next
The trial has been adjourned to February 24, 2026, with the court insisting that security agencies must execute the arrest warrants.
As Nigeria continues to battle insurgency and banditry, the Musa Kamarawa saga has become a symbol of the murky intersection between security policy, political power, and shadowy negotiations with armed groups.
For now, the record is stark and unambiguous:
Musa Kamarawa — former aide to the Defence Minister and accuser of alleged terror sponsorship — is officially wanted by a Federal High Court for links to Bello Turji’s terror network.
Abuja Network News will continue to monitor developments.
Abuja Network News
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