The Federal Government on Monday opposed a fresh bail application filed by alleged terrorist negotiator, Tukur Mamu, who is seeking release from the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) on health grounds.
Mamu, the alleged negotiator in the Abuja-Kaduna train kidnapping case, through his legal team led by Mr Johnson Usman, asked the court to grant him bail to enable him to receive proper medical treatment.
Mamu is facing a 10-count charge bordering on terrorism. He was arrested on 6 September 2022 in Cairo, Egypt, while en route to Saudi Arabia for lesser Hajj, before being repatriated to Nigeria and detained by the DSS, which secured a detention order against him.
The DSS alleged that Mamu, publisher of Desert Herald, used journalism as a cover for his activities and was intercepted on his way to meet top terrorist commanders. He was arraigned on 21 March 2023 for allegedly aiding terrorist operations in the country, including collecting various sums of money in different currencies from families of train attack victims on behalf of the Boko Haram terrorist group.
Specifically, the government alleged that Mamu collected an aggregate of $420,000 and ₦21 million from the victims’ families, concealing the funds in his Kaduna residence. It was further alleged that in 2022 he received a ₦500,000 ransom payment from the families of hostages on behalf of Boko Haram.
According to the charges signed by the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, Mr M.B. Abubakar, Mamu exchanged voice communications with Boko Haram spokesperson Baba Adamu concerning acts of terrorism, breaching the Terrorism Prevention and Prohibition Act, 2022.
A search of Mamu’s residence and office reportedly uncovered incriminating items, including $151, £20, 1,530 Indian Rupees, one Saudi Riyal, 70 Dirhams, ₦1,506,000, 16 foreign coins, two packs of pump-action cartridges, 16 ATM cards from various banks, seven cheque books, six laptops, four tablets, 24 handsets, three international passports, a firearm licence, and Nigerian Army and Naval uniforms.
Mamu pleaded not guilty to the charges. On 27 April 2023, the court denied his bail request and refused his application to be transferred from DSS custody to Kuje prison, citing security concerns over custodial facilities in the country.
Despite his assurances to remain available for trial, the court ruled that his health needs could be adequately managed by the DSS and noted that he had not sufficiently rebutted the prosecution’s claims of widespread jailbreaks.
At the resumed hearing, Mamu’s counsel informed the court that his health had deteriorated significantly while in custody, stressing the urgent need for surgery.
He alleged that a previous court order granting him access to his personal physician was only partially complied with, raising concerns about his worsening condition.
However, the Federal Government opposed the application, urging the court to dismiss it for lack of merit. In a counter-affidavit filed by the prosecution counsel, Mr David Kaswe, the government argued that the defendant posed a flight risk, noting that the court had previously refused bail pending the determination of his case.
The prosecution insisted that the DSS had adequate medical facilities to cater to his health needs and emphasised the gravity of the charges against him.
Justice Muhammed Umar adjourned the case to allow both parties to argue their submissions, after which the court will rule on the application and therefore fixed 22 July to hear the fresh bail application.
