FG Files Fresh Charge Against Mamu Over 2022 Train Attack

THE Federal Government, on Monday, June 1, filed fresh amended 17-count terrorism charge against alleged terrorists’ negotiator during the Abuja-Kaduna train attack hostages in 2022, Tukur Mamu, before Justice Mohammed Umar of the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Mamu, who was apprehended on September 7, 2022, by the Egyptian security officials at the Cairo International Airport, was earlier arraigned on a 10-count charge bordering on terrorism financing.
The prosecution amended the counts by bringing in more offences, including unlawful possession of firearms without valid licence and money laundering charges.
When the case was called, an Assistant Director, Federal Ministry of Justice, David Kaswe, told the court that an amended charge, dated and filed on May 26, had been served on the defence Counsel.
Kaswe stated that the prosecution had incorporated more counts, in line with the evidence already placed before the court, praying the court for the defendant to take his plea on the amended charge.
Mamu’s lawyer, Johnson Usman (SAN), did not oppose the application and Justice Umar directed that the amended charge be read to the defendant.
Mamu pleaded not guilty to the 17 counts after they were read to him and the prosecution commenced its cross examination of the accused, who had earleir opened his defence and testified as the sole defence witness.
The defendant opened his defence on April 23 after the Federal Government closed its case by calling seven witnesses in the ongoing trial.
In the count one of the charge, marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/96/2023, Mamu was alleged to have, sometime about March 28, 2022, in Kaduna, gave support to the Boko Haram terrorist group.
He was alleged to have instigated the group to boycott the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Committee set up by the Federal Government to negotiate the release of the hostages of the Abuja-Kaduna train attack to enhance his act as the negotiator for the payment, receipt and delivery of ransom payment from the families of the hostages.
In count two, he was alleged to have undermined and obstructed the CDS Committee set up to negotiate the release of the hostages of the attack, while count three accused him of receiving ransom payments, in the sum of $120,000, on behalf of the terror group, from families of victims of the attack, contrary to Section 21(3)(a) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
Mamu was also alleged to have committed an offence preparatory to or in furtherance of act of terrorism when he exchanged voice note communications in relation to acts of terrorism with Baba Adamu, the Boko Haram spokesperson, as well as dealing in terrorist funds, in the sum of $269,200 and N25,690,500, allegedly found in his possession, in counts six and seven.
He was said to have committed an offence of dealing in terrorist property, contrary to Section 23 (1) (a) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition).
The negotiator was further alleged, in counts 11, 12 and 13, to be dealing in terrorist funds, in the sum of 1840 Indian Rupees, 1700 Egyptian Pounds and 115 UAE Dirham, found in his possession.
Counts 14 and 15 border on money laundering offences, in the sum of N25, 690,500 and $269,200, allegedly found in his possession, while he was accused in count 16 of unlawful possession of firearms, when he allegedly had in his possession, a Delta Magnum pump action firearm without a valid licence.
Count 17 accused him of unlawful possession of firearms, when he had in his possession, about 47 cartridges (ammunitions) without a valid licence sometime about March 28, 2022, contrary to Section 3 of the Fire Arms Act CAP F.28 LFN, 2004, and punishable under Section 28 of the Fire Arms Act, CAP F.28 LFN, 2004.
Shortly after the counts were read to him, the prosecution lawyer began the cross examination.
The matter was later adjourned until June 8 for continuation of the cross examination.