The Federal High Court in Abuja has once again refused to grant bail to alleged terrorists’ negotiator, Tukur Mamu, who has remained in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) since 2022.
In a ruling delivered on Wednesday, Justice Mohammed Umar dismissed Mamu’s fresh bail application, citing insufficient grounds to warrant his release. However, the court ordered the DSS to ensure that Mamu receives adequate medical attention at any hospital of his choice, under strict security supervision.
“I have carefully read the application for bail filed by the defendant and all accompanying documents. One thing to determine is whether the defendant has placed sufficient material facts before the court to warrant the granting of bail,” Justice Umar stated.
The judge explained that while courts have the discretion to grant bail, such powers must be exercised “judiciously and judicially,” taking into account factors such as the gravity of the charge, the evidence presented, and the possibility of the defendant interfering with the trial or fleeing justice.
Justice Umar added that the court was satisfied with the prosecution’s diligence in handling the case, noting that lack of diligence — often a key factor for bail — was not applicable in Mamu’s situation.
This is the third time the court has denied bail to Mamu since his arraignment on March 21, 2023, on a 10-count charge filed by the Federal Government, bordering on terrorism financing and related offences.
Mamu, a Kaduna-based publisher and aide to popular Islamic cleric Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, was arrested on September 7, 2022, by Egyptian authorities at Cairo International Airport before being repatriated to Nigeria.
He was accused of aiding and abetting Boko Haram terrorism financing and allegedly serving as a negotiator between families of victims and the terrorists who attacked the Abuja-Kaduna train on March 28, 2022, an incident that left several passengers dead and many abducted.
Prosecutors allege that Mamu received and delivered ransom payments to the terrorists for personal financial gain, bypassing the official negotiation team set up by the Federal Government and led by the Chief of Defence Staff.
The court has adjourned further proceedings, while the DSS is to ensure compliance with the medical treatment directive.
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