The Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday fixed Jan. 27, 2027, for judgment in a charge filed by the Federal Government against Tukur Mamu, alleged terrorists’ negotiator during the Abuja-Kaduna train attack hostages in 2022.
Justice Mohammed Umar fixed the date after the Federal Government’s lawyer, David Kaswe, and Mamu’s counsel, Johnson Usman, SAN, adopted their final written addresses and presented their arguments for and against the case.
Mamu, who was arrested on Sept. 7, 2022 by the Egyptian security officials at the Cairo International Airport, was earlier arraigned on a 10-count charge bordering on terrorism financing.
However, 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 on Monday, Usman informed the court that the case was scheduled for adoption of parties’ final written addresses.
The senior lawyer said the the defendant’s final written address was dated July 22 but filed July 23.
‘Our reply on points of law is dated Oct. 30 and filed same day. We adopt these two addrseses and we humbly urge this honourable court to graciously acquit and discharge the defendant on all the counts preferred by Federal Government as same, having not been proven in any manner,’ he prayed.
Usman argued that though the defence team had consistently demanded for the licence of the rifle allegedly recovered from Mamu’s residence, the lawyer said the prosecution had failed to produce the licence in court.
‘You mean the expired licence?’ Justice Umar asked Usman.
Responding, Usman submitted that their contention was that the licence was not expired as at the time Mamu was arrested.
He said even though the prosecution took custody of the arms and the licence, their failure to produce the lience in court had raised serious issues of doubt.
He, therefore, urged the court to resolve the issue in favour of his client.
‘My lord, if my vehicle licence expires and my car is parked at home, the VIO cannot arrest me. We have asked for this on three consecutive times but they failed to produce it in court,’ he said.
But Kaswe, as assistant director, who appeared for the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) on behalf of the Federal Government, disagreed with Usman’s submission.
The prosecution lawyer recalled that the licence and the rifle had already been tendered before the court.
‘My Lord, the record of this court will show that we have tendered the licence together with the arms on the day the PW-5, an exhibit keeper, was led on evidence,’ he added.
Kaswe reminded that after the prosecution applied for a safe keep of the rifle and other exhibits, the court granted their request. The lawyer, who adopted their final written address dated Sept. 18, said the processs was filed on Sept. 21.
‘We respectfully adopt our written address as our oral submission and argument in prove of the case against the defendant and we urge my lord to agree with us that we have discharged the burden of proof placed before us and to convict the defendant as charged,’ he prayed.
Usman, however, thanked the Department of State Services (DSS) for granting access to Mamu’s family members in accordance beith court order.
‘My lord, I thank the current regime of DSS for the access given to the defendant’s family. When they do well, we should praise them. My sincere gratitude to the DG DSS,’ Usman said.
After listening to the lawyers, Justice Umar fixed Jan. 27, 2027, for judgment. Mamu, the sole defendant, was re-arraigned on June 1 on a 17-count charge.
He, however, pleaded not guilty after the counts 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.