…Says he needed urgent surgical operations
Terrorist negotiator, Tukur Mamu, who is standing trial for terrorism offences, has applied to the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja to transfer him out of the custody of the Department of the State Service (DSS) to the Kuje Correctional Centre in Abuja.
Mamu asked the presiding judge, Justice Inyang Edem Ekwo, to vary the remand order against him for a remand at the prison instead of the DSS custody.
During the trial yesterday, Mamu through his lawyer, Abdul Mohammed, (SAN), told the court that the order of the court made on December 19, 2023 – that he should be allowed access to his personal physician for medical treatment – was not complied with by the DSS.
In his Motion on Notice argued by his lawyer, the former terrorist negotiator claimed that he was allowed access to the physician only once, during which a report of comprehensive medical examination to be carried out on him was submitted to the DSS.
Since the submission of the report, Mamu alleged that the physician had not been allowed to access him, adding that he needed urgent surgical operations in any hospital in the county. He further claimed that his health had since deteriorated and that he may lose his life any moment if he was not moved out of the DSS custody to Kuje prison.
The defendant promised regular attendance at the trial in the terrorism charges, while affirming that he can only stand trial when alive.
There was however a mild drama at the proceeding when a Federal Government’s lawyer, David Emmanuel Kaswe, who was billed to respond to Mamu’s request, suddenly disappeared in the court room without any excuse or notification. The situation forced the court to stand-down the proceeding for over one hour; yet, the prosecution counsel did not show up.
Justice Ekwo who expressed shock over the attitude of the lawyer said: “I am aware that the prosecution counsel was in this court room this morning. The miracle of his disappearance is however beyond my understanding. This court stands on the side of justice and the antics of the prosecution, will be tolerated for today’s proceeding only”.
Justice Ekwo invoked the rule of the court and ordered that the processes filed by the lawyer against Mamu’s application be deemed adopted.
The Judge subsequently fixed May 20 for ruling on whether to move the defendant out of DSS custody to Kuje prison or not.
Recall that Mamu was arrested at the Aminu Kano International Airport, upon his arrival from Egypt on September 6, 2022, over his alleged relationship with the terrorists who attacked the Abuja-Kaduna train on March 28, 2022.
The DSS had on March 21, 2023, arraigned him on 10 counts of terrorism-financing, among others, but he pleaded ‘not guilty’ to the charges.
