Court rejects third bail plea by alleged terrorism negotiator, Tukur Mamu

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has once again denied bail to detained terrorist negotiator, Tukur Mohammed Mamu, citing ongoing security concerns and confidence in the diligence of the prosecution.

Justice Mohammed Umar, who delivered the ruling on Wednesday, said while the court acknowledged Mamu’s complaints about his deteriorating health, his release on bail was not warranted at this stage.

Instead, the judge directed the Department of State Services (DSS) to ensure Mamu receives adequate medical care by taking him to a suitable health facility where he can be properly treated.

The judge said one of the reasons for granting bail is where the prosecution is not diligent, noting that since the prosecution in this case is diligent, the application for bail cannot be granted.

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He subsequently ordered that the defence lawyer should choose the health facility comfortable to the defendant, to which he should be promptly taken.

He also asked the DSS to allow the defendant access to members of his family.

The ruling on Wednesday is the third time the court will reject his application for bail since his was arraigned on March 21, 2023 by the Federal Government on a 10-count charge bordering on terrorism financing, among others.

Mamu was arrested on September 7, 2022 by Egyptian security officials at the Cairo International Airport, on reasonable suspicion of financing Boko Haram terrorism activities.

He was alleged to have convinced the terrorists to discuss ransom payments with individual families of the hostages of the train attack instead of the Chief of Defense Staff Committee set up by the Federal Government for his personal financial gain.

He was said to have been nominated by the terrorists that attacked the Abuja-Kaduna bound train sometime in March 2022 which took scores of persons hostage.

Mamu was alleged to have collected ransoms on behalf of the Boko Haram terrorists from families of hostages, confirmed the amount and facilitated the delivery of same to the terrorists.