Court fixes January 27 for judgment in Tukur Mamu’s terrorism trial

The Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed January 27, 2027, for judgment in the terrorism trial of Tukur Mohammed Mamu, who is accused of negotiating on behalf of terrorists.

Justice Mohammed Umar announced the date on Monday after lawyers representing the Federal Government and Mamu presented their final arguments.

The prosecution counsel, David Kaswe, adopted the government’s final written address and urged the court to convict Mamu, saying the prosecution had proved its case.

He said: “We respectfully adopt our written address as our oral submission and argument in proof of the case against the defendant.

However, Mamu’s lawyer, Johnson Usman, adopted the defence’s final and reply addresses and asked the court to acquit his client.

He said: “We adopt these two addresses and, we humbly urge this honourable court to graciously acquit and discharge the defendant on all the counts preferred by Federal Government, as same, having not been proved in any manner.”

Usman argued that the prosecution had failed to present the licence for the rifle allegedly recovered from Mamu’s residence by security operatives, despite repeated demands by the defence.

When the judge asked whether he was referring to a licence that had expired, Usman said the defence’s position was that it was still valid when Mamu was arrested.

He argued that although the prosecution had taken possession of the rifle and its licence, the failure to produce the document in court raised doubts about the case.

Usman urged the court to resolve the issue in his client’s favour, adding: “My lord, if my vehicle licence expires and my car is parked at home, the Vehicle Inspection Officer, VIO, cannot come and arrest me that my licence has expired.”

In response, Kaswe disagreed with the defence lawyer, saying the rifle and its licence had already been presented as evidence before the court.

He said: “My Lord, the record of this court shows that we have tendered the licence together with the arms on the day the PW-5 (fifth prosecution witness), an exhibit keeper, was led on evidence.”

Kaswe added that the court had also approved the prosecution’s request to keep the rifle and other exhibits in a safe place.

Usman also thanked the Department of State Services, DSS, which has custody of Mamu, for allowing his family to visit him in line with the court’s order.

Mamu was arrested by Egyptian security officials at Cairo International Airport on September 7, 2022, over suspicions that he was involved in financing Boko Haram terrorism.

He was accused of persuading the terrorists who abducted passengers during the Abuja-Kaduna train attack to negotiate ransom payments directly with victims’ families instead of dealing with the Chief of Defence Staff Committee established by the Federal Government.

The alleged move was said to have been intended to secure his personal financial benefit.

The terrorists had attacked the Abuja-Kaduna-bound train in March 2022, taking several passengers hostage. Mamu was reportedly nominated by the group to negotiate with the victims’ families.

He was also accused of collecting ransom payments from families on behalf of the terrorists, confirming the amounts and arranging their delivery.

Mamu was initially charged with 10 counts relating to terrorism financing. The Federal Government later amended the charge, adding seven counts involving alleged unlawful possession of firearms and money laundering.

He was re-arraigned on June 1 on the amended 17-count charge and pleaded not guilty.

In count one of the charge, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/96/2023, the Federal Government accused him of supporting Boko Haram in Kaduna on or about March 28, 2022.

He was alleged to have encouraged the group to avoid the CDS Committee set up to negotiate the release of the train attack victims, so he could act as the intermediary for negotiating, receiving and delivering ransom payments from their families.

In count two, he was accused of undermining and obstructing the committee’s efforts to secure the release of the hostages.

Count three accused him of collecting $120,000 in ransom on behalf of the terrorist group from families of the victims, contrary to Section 21(3)(a) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

He was also accused of exchanging voice messages about terrorist activities with Baba Adamu, identified as a Boko Haram spokesperson.

In counts six and seven, the prosecution alleged that Mamu possessed terrorist funds amounting to $269,200 and N25,690,500.

The charges also accused him of possessing 1,840 Indian rupees, 1,700 Egyptian pounds and 115 UAE dirhams as proceeds linked to terrorism.

Counts 14 and 15 accused him of money laundering involving N25,690,500 and $269,200 allegedly found in his possession.

In count 16, the Federal Government accused him of unlawfully possessing a Delta Magnum pump-action firearm without a valid licence.

He was also accused in count 17 of possessing 47 cartridges without a valid licence.

The prosecution said the alleged firearms offences violated Section 3 of the Firearms Act, CAP F.28, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, and were punishable under Section 28 of the same law.