A Federal High Court in Abuja has again denied bail to detained alleged terrorists’ negotiator, Tukur Mohammed Mamu.
Justice Mohammed Umar, in a ruling on Wednesday, acknowledged Mamu’s health complaints but directed the Department of State Services (DSS) to take him to an appropriate health facility for proper medical treatment rather than release him.
The judge noted that the prosecution had demonstrated diligence in handling the case, emphasizing that bail is usually granted when the prosecution is not diligent. Since that was not the situation here, the court held that there was no justification to grant bail.
Justice Umar further ordered that Mamu’s lawyer should select a suitable health facility where the defendant can be treated promptly. He also directed the DSS to grant Mamu access to his family members.
This marks the third time the court has refused Mamu’s bail application since he was arraigned on March 21, 2023, by the Federal Government on a 10-count charge bordering on terrorism financing and related offences.
Mamu was arrested on September 7, 2022, by Egyptian security officials at Cairo International Airport on suspicion of financing Boko Haram activities.
He was accused of persuading terrorists who attacked the Abuja-Kaduna train in March 2022 to negotiate ransom payments directly with the victims’ families instead of the Federal Government’s Defence Committee, allegedly for personal financial gain.
Prosecutors claimed he collected ransom payments from hostages’ families, confirmed the amounts, and facilitated their delivery to the terrorists.
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