Tukur Mamu, the “terrorist negotiator.”
Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed July 22 for hearing of the fresh bail application filed by Tukur Mamu, the “terrorist negotiator” who was accused of aiding Boko Haram terrorists.
Mamu’s counsel, Johnson Usman, SAN, sought an adjournment to study and respond to the counter affidavit filed by the Federal Government.
Mamu, in his motion, sought bail pending trial on grounds of ill-health, stating that his health has deteriorated and he needs immediate surgical operation.
“The defendant/applicant stands the risk of losing his life if the court does not exercise the discretion in his favour by admitting him to bail in order to get the necessary medical attention,” he said. Mamu’s lawyer argued that the court should grant bail to enable him receive medical treatment or direct the government to take him to the hospital for surgical procedure as recommended by both Egyptian and Nigerian doctors.
However, the Federal Government opposed the application, arguing that Mamu had previously applied for bail and was denied.
“The defendant had not provided any new exceptional circumstances to warrant the reconsideration of a bail application at this time,” the government’s lawyer, David Kaswe, said. The government also argued that the terrorism offences for which Mamu is standing trial are not ordinarily bailable by the operation of law.
Mamu is standing trial on a 10-count terrorism charge, accused of aiding terrorist operations and collecting ransom payments on behalf of Boko Haram. He was alleged to have collected an aggregate sum of $420,000 from families of victims of the Abuja-Kaduna train attack, as well as N21 million from another set of families of the train attack. Mamu pleaded not guilty to the charge. The court had earlier declined to grant him bail.
Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court had earlier declined to grant Mamu’s bail application. The Federal Government arraigned Mamu on March 21, 2023, and he has been in custody since his arrest in September 2022 by Egyptian security officials.
