Court rejects Tukur Mamu’s third bail plea

The Federal High Court in Abuja has once again denied bail to detained alleged terrorists’ negotiator, Tukur Mohammed Mamu, marking the third time his request has been rejected since his arraignment.

Delivering the ruling on Wednesday, Justice Mohammed Umar dismissed Mamu’s renewed bail application, which was based on claims of deteriorating health.

The judge held that the Department of State Services, DSS, had demonstrated due diligence in handling and prosecuting the case, and therefore, there was no basis to grant bail.

Justice Umar stated that bail could only be considered if there was evidence that the prosecution was not diligent in its duties.

“The DSS has been diligent in its handling of this case,” he said, adding that the court had no reason to intervene by granting bail.

However, in a concession to the defence, the court ordered that Mamu’s lawyer be allowed to select a medical facility where the defendant should be promptly taken for treatment. The judge also directed the DSS to permit Mamu access to his family members while in custody.

This latest decision marks the third consecutive time Mamu’s bail applications have been rejected since his arraignment on March 21, 2023, on a 10-count charge filed by the Federal Government. The charges border on terrorism financing and other related offences.

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Mamu, a Kaduna-based publisher and self-proclaimed negotiator, was arrested by Egyptian security officials on September 7, 2022, at the Cairo International Airport and handed over to Nigerian authorities.

He was accused of financing Boko Haram activities and acting as an intermediary between the terrorist group and families of victims of the March 28, 2022, Abuja-Kaduna train attack.

According to the prosecution, Mamu persuaded the terrorists to negotiate ransom payments directly with victims’ families, bypassing the Chief of Defence Staff-led committee established by the Federal Government for that purpose.

Investigators allege that he collected ransom money on behalf of the terrorists, confirmed the amounts, and facilitated delivery to their handlers.

Justice Umar’s decision reinforces the court’s previous stance that national security concerns and the seriousness of the allegations outweigh Mamu’s plea for temporary release. The DSS was further instructed to continue ensuring his well-being while in custody.

With this latest ruling, Mamu remains in detention pending the continuation of his terrorism-related trial.

Crediblenewsng.com