Court Rejects Alleged Terrorists' Negotiator Tukur Mamu's Third Bail application, Cites Due Diligence By DSS
A Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday rejected a fresh application for bail filed by detained alleged terrorists' negotiator, Tukur Mohammed Mamu.
Justice Mohammed Umar, in a ruling on the complaint of ill health made by Mamu and held that the detaining authority, the Department of State Services (DSS) should continue to keep him, but if need be, take him to another health facility to cater for his health needs.
Justice Umar noted that, going by the history of the case, the DSS has exhibited diligence in it handling of the case and has diligently prosecuted the case.
The judge said one of the reasons for granting bail is where the is proof that the prosecution is not diligent. He noted that in Mamu's case, the DSS has been diligent, so the court has no reason to grant the application for bail.
The judge therafter ordered that Mamu's lawyer choose the health facility of choice to which the defendant should be promptly taken.
He also asked the DSS to allow the defendant access to members of his family.
This is the third time the court will reject the defendant's application for bail since his arraignment on March 21, 2023 by the Federal Government on a 10-count charge bordering on terrorism financing, among others charges.
Mamu was arrested on September 7, 2022 by Egyptian security officials at the Cairo International Airport, on reasonable suspicion of financing Boko Haram terrorists.
Mamu was alleged to have convinced the terrorists to discuss ransom payments with individual families of the hostages of the 28 March, 2022 train attack in Katari, Kaduna State, instead of a Chief of Defence Staff -led Committee set up by the Federal Government.
Mamu was accused of being nominated by the terrorists that attacked the Abuja-Kaduna train in which many persons were killed and some taken hostage.
Mamu was alleged to have collected ransoms on behalf of the Boko Haram terrorists from families of hostages, confirmed the amount and facilitated the delivery of same to the terrorists