Alleged terrorists’ negotiator, Tukur Mohammed Mamu
Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has again refused to grant bail to Tukur Mohammed Mamu, the controversial negotiator accused of aiding terrorists linked to the 2022 Abuja-Kaduna train attack.
Delivering the ruling on Wednesday, Justice Mohammed Umar dismissed Mamu’s third attempt to secure bail, this time on medical grounds. The judge held that the Department of State Services (DSS) had shown “due diligence” in managing the case and had not given the court any reason to question its handling of Mamu’s health concerns.
“The court only considers bail where there’s evidence of prosecutorial delay or negligence. That is not the case here,” Justice Umar stated. He emphasized that the DSS has been “diligent in its prosecution” of the terrorism-related charges brought against the defendant.
While denying the bail request, the court permitted Mamu’s legal team to nominate a health facility where he could receive treatment if necessary. The DSS was further directed to ensure Mamu is given access to his family members, as requested.
Mamu, a former media aide and publisher, has been in custody since his arrest on September 7, 2022 at the Cairo International Airport by Egyptian authorities. He was later extradited to Nigeria and formally charged by the Federal Government on March 21, 2023, on a 10-count indictment. The charges include terrorism financing, collaborating with insurgents, and acting as a conduit between hostage families and Boko Haram elements.
According to federal prosecutors, Mamu positioned himself as a negotiator after the deadly March 28, 2022 train attack in Katari, Kaduna State, in which dozens were kidnapped and several lives were lost. Instead of aligning with a government-approved negotiation committee led by the Chief of Defence Staff, Mamu allegedly brokered ransom deals directly between families of hostages and the terrorists.
He is accused of collecting ransoms, verifying payments, and facilitating their handover to the insurgents — a move the prosecution claims amounts to aiding and abetting terrorism.
This marks the third time Mamu has sought bail, all of which have been denied by the court. His trial continues to draw widespread attention due to its sensitive national security implications and the high-profile nature of the train attack incident.
With the next phase of legal proceedings approaching, Mamu remains in DSS custody, pending further hearings.
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