2.11.2026
The Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday fixed January 27, 2027, for judgment in a charge filed by the Federal Government against Tukur Mamu, alleged terrorists’ negotiator during the Abuja-Kaduna train attack hostages in 2022.
Justice Mohammed Umar fixed the date after the Federal Government’s lawyer, David Kaswe, and Mamu’s counsel, Johnson Usman, SAN, adopted their final written addresses and presented their arguments for and against the case.
Mamu, who was arrested on September 7, 2022 by the Egyptian security officials at the Cairo International Airport, was earlier arraigned on a 10-count charge bordering on terrorism financing.
However, the prosecution amended the counts by bringing in more offences, including unlawful possession of firearms without valid licence and money laundering charges.
Mamu, the sole defendant, was re-arraigned on June 1 on a 17-count charge.
He, however, pleaded not guilty after the counts were read to him and the prosecution commenced its cross-examination of the accused, who had earlier opened his defence and testified as the sole defence witness.
In the count of one of the charges, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/96/2023, the defendant was alleged to have, sometime about March 28, 2022, in Kaduna, given support to the Boko Haram terrorist group.
He was alleged to have instigated the terror group to boycott the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Committee set up by the Federal Government to negotiate the release of the hostages (victims) of the Abuja-Kaduna train attack to enhance his act as the negotiator for the payment, receipt and delivery of ransom payment from the families of the hostages.
In count two, he was alleged to have undermined and obstructed the CDS Committee set up to negotiate the release of the hostages of the attack.
Count three accused him of receiving ransom payments in the sum of 120 million dollars on behalf of the terrorist group from families of victims of the attack contrary to Section 21(3)(a) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
He was also alleged to have committed an offence preparatory to or in furtherance of an act
of terrorism when he exchanged voice note communications in relation to acts of terrorism with Baba Adamu, the Boko Haram spokesperson.
He was said to have committed an offence of dealing in terrorist property contrary to Section 23 (1) (a) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition).
The defendant was equally alleged to be dealing in terrorist funds in the sum of 1,840 Indian Rupees, 1,700 Egyptian Pounds and 115 UAE Dirham in counts 11, 12 and 13, which were found in his possession.
Mamu was also accused of unlawful possession of firearms when he had in his possession about 47 cartridges (ammunitions) without a valid licence sometime about March 28, 2022.
The offence, the prosecution said, contravened the provisions of Section 3 of the Fire Arms Act CAP F.28 LFN, 2004, and was punishable under Section 28 of the Fire Arms Act, CAP F.28 LFN, 2004. NAN
Tukur Mamu...