The Federal Government on Tuesday, March 21,arraigned Kaduna-based Islamic scholar Tukur Mohammed Mamu on a 10-count charge of terrorism
Mamu was arraigned before Justice Inyang Ekwo of a Federal High Court, Abuja, by the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) on behalf of the FG.
This is coming after it was reported that Justice Nkeonye Maha of a sister court gave the Department of State Services (DSS) a go-ahead to detain the former terrorists’ negotiator for 60 days to enable it to conclude its investigation on the suspect who led the negotiation with the terrorists for the release of the Abuja-Kaduna train passengers kidnapped in March 2022.
In the charges, the Federal Government accused Mamu of aiding and abetting Boko Haram terrorism attacks against innocent Nigerians.
Among others, he was accused of collecting sums of money in various currencies on behalf of Boko Haram terrorists from the families of victims of the train attack.
Specifically, Mamu was said to have collected $420,000 from the families of the attack victims and another N21 million from another set of families.
Similarly, he was accused of concealing the terrorism funds in his Kaduna residence in violation of provisions of the Terrorism Prevention, Prohibition Act.
However, Mamu denied all the charges when read to him in the open court.
Though the Federal Government asked for a date to commence his trial, Mamu’s lawyer, Mohammed Ndanusa, moved a motion requesting bail for his client.
Among others, Ndanusa told the court that his client was suffering ailments that required urgent surgical operation.
The Federal Government vehemently opposed the request on the ground that medical doctors at the DSS hospital could treat all ailments claimed by the accused.
However, after taking arguments for and against the bail request, Justice Ekwo reserved ruling till a date that would be communicated to the parties.
He ordered that Mamu remains in the custody of the DSS pending the ruling on the bail application.
Mamu, who was moved to the court by a retinue of armed security operatives, was taken away to the DSS custody immediately after the arraignment
