A former terrorists’ negotiator, Tukur Mamu, has been arraigned by the Nigerian government before Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on a 10-count charge bordering on terrorism and financing, especially on the recent Abuja-Kaduna train attack.
Mamu who was arrested on September 6, 2022, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges preferred against him, Daily Trust reports.
The case is being handled by the office of the Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF).
The charge was signed by the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) of the Federation, M.B. Abubakar
SaharaReporters had on November 22, 2022, reported that the Department of State Services withdrew the suit filed at the Federal High Court, Abuja to detain the former terrorists’ negotiator, Tukur Mamu, for 60 more days after his arrest.
DSS’ counsel, A.M. Danlami, had told Justice Nkeonye Maha shortly after the matter was called for hearing.
The suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1619/2022 between SSS and Tukur Mamu, had been listed for further proceedings on the day’s cause list.
Upon resumed hearing, Danlami, who sought to withdraw the case, said that the matter had been overtaken by events.
“My lord, this matter is slated for hearing today. However, the matter has been overtaken by events. We wish to withdraw the suit,” he said.
Following the application, Justice Maha struck out the suit.
“Application of the learner counsel succeeds. The application is hereby struck out having been withdrawn,” she ruled.
The security agency, through its lawyer, Ahmed Magaji, had, on Sepember 13, moved a motion ex-parte, which sought an order of the court to detain Mamu for 60 more days in the first instance, pending the conclusion of its investigation.
The motion marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1617/2022, was dated and filed on September 12.
It urged the court to grant its reliefs to enable it to conclude its investigation on Mamu, who had been leading the negotiation with the terrorists for the release of the Abuja-Kaduna train passengers kidnapped in March 2022.
It will be recalled that almost six months after the Abuja-Kaduna train passengers were kidnapped by Boko Haram terrorists, the remaining 23 kidnapped victims finally regained their freedom on October 5 following the Federal Government’s intervention.
Mamu was, on September 6, arrested in Cairo, the capital of Egypt, with his family members by foreign security agents.
Mamu, who was on his way to Saudi Arabia for lesser Hajj, was detained at Cairo International Airport before being repatriated back to Nigeria.
Meanwhile, the DSS, in the affidavit in support of the ex-parte motion, alleged that its preliminary investigation established the offences of the logistics supplier, aiding and abetting acts of terrorism against Mamu.
