To be arraigned on terrorism charges
Court orders DSS to detain him for 60 more days
The Department of State Services has alleged that its preliminary investigation established the offences of logistic supplier, aiding and abetting acts of terrorism against Tukur Mamu.
The DSS, in an affidavit in support of its ex-parte motion marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1617/2022 filed before Justice Nkeonye Maha of a Federal High Court, Abuja, also alleged that the investigation established act of terrorism financing against Mamu, the former terrorists’ negotiator.
Justice Maha granted the motion ex-parte moved by counsel for the DSS, Ahmed Magaji, seeking an order to detain Mamu for 60 days in the first instance, pending the conclusion of the investigation.
The motion was dated and filed on September 12 by U.N. Dauda, a lawyer with the security outfit.
The DSS, in the application, had sought “an order enabling the State Security Service/applicant to detain the respondent (Mamu) for a period of 60 days in the first instance, pending the conclusion of investigation.”
Mamu is the sole respondent in the suit.
In the affidavit in support of the ex-parte motion deposed to by Hamza Pandogari, a legal officer with the DSS, he said it was necessary for Mamu to be detained for 60 days in the first instance, pending the conclusion of investigation of various acts of terrorism against him.
Pandogari alleged that Mamu, “the self-acclaimed Kaduna train negotiator exploit the opportunity to perpetrate, aid and abets as well as render support to both local and international terrorist organisations.
“That the respondent was intercepted by the Nigerian foreign partners at Cairo, Egypt, on 6th September, 2022 while on his way to Saudi Arabia for a clandestine meeting with commanders and top leaders of terrorists organisations across the globe.
“That upon his interception, and subsequent repatriation back to Nigeria, a duly signed search warrant was executed in his residence and office at No. 4, Ali Ladan Street, Sabon Kawo GRA and No. 14, Mamona Road, Anguwan Sarki, Kaduna State and various exhibits and items to establish his complicity with terrorists were recovered.”
The agency listed some of the items recovered from Manu’s residence and office to include $151, 20 pounds sterling; 1, 530 Indian Rupees; one Saudi Riyal; 70 Dirham; one million, five hundred and six thousand naira; and 16 assorted foreign coins.
The DSS also alleged that two packs of pump action cartridges; 16 ATM (auto-mated machine) cards from both local and foreign banks; seven cheque books of different banks; six laptops; four tablets; 24 handsets and three international passports belonging to Mamu; one firearm licence; eight pieces of Nigerian Army uniforms; 16 pieces of Nigerian Naval uniforms, were among 34 items recovered.
The DSS said that the “preliminary investigation so far established, amongst others, the offences of logistic supplier, aiding and abetting acts of terrorism as well as terrorism financing against him.
“That the defendant (Mamu) has used the cover of his profession as a journalist to aid both local and international terrorist groups.
“That the action of the defendant has orchestrated the untimely death of several security personnel in North Central and North East parts of Nigeria.
“That the defendant has discreetly given several information to bandits and terrorists that escalated various acts of terrorism in Nigeria.
“That the investigation has assumed a wider dimension and sophistication requiring time and advanced expertise to conclude.
“That some of the suspects working with the defendant are at large and premature release of the defendant will jeopardise the ongoing investigation.
“That it is in the interest of justice and national security to grant this application.
“That the activities of the defendant and his associates at large constitute a potent threat to the unity and peaceful co-existence of Nigeria.”
Mamu was arrested on September 6 in Cairo, capital of Egypt, with his family members by foreign security agents.
Mamu, who was on his way to Saudi Arabia for lesser Hajj, was detained at Cairo International Airport before being repatriated back to Nigeria.
The DSS had, on Sunday, warned Nigerians over making comments on its arrest of Mamu.
The DSS, in a statement by its spokesman, Peter Afunaya, asked the public to leave the agency alone and allow it to concentrate on the investigations which it said the outcomes had been “mindboggling.”
This was after the Islamic cleric, Sheik Gumi, to whom Mamu is an aide, had faulted the arrest of the negotiator.
Gumi, at a religious gathering on Friday in Kaduna, had asked the security agency to charge Mamu to court if it had any evidence against him, rather than keeping him in custody.
Reacting in its statement, the security outfit said, “The DSS has followed, with keen observation, overzealous comments by sections of the public in view of issues relating to the arrest and investigation of Tukur Mamu.”
“The service wishes to state that it is not distracted with some of the skewed narratives pervading the media space. Instead, it requests to be left alone to concentrate on the ongoing investigations, the outcomes of which have remained mind boggling.”
“Meanwhile, the service will cease further comments on the subject matter since the court will determine its course.
“Consequently, the public is hereby enjoined to desist from making unguarded utterances and await the court proceedings.”
