Tukur Mamu, ex-terrorist negotiator, on Tuesday, pleaded not guilty to a 10-count charge bordering on terrorism financing preferred against him by the Federal Government.
The Attorney-General of the Federation arraigned Mamu on behalf of government before Justice Inyang Ekwo of Federal High Court in Abuja.
He, however, denied having allegiance with the terrorists.
Justice Nkeonye Maha of a sister court had, on Sept. 13, 2022, permitted Department of State Services to detain the former terrorists’ negotiator for 60 days.
This was in order to enable DSS to conclude its investigation on Mamu.
Mamu allegedly led the negotiation with terrorists for release of the Abuja-Kaduna train passengers kidnapped in March 2022.
The Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation, Mr M.B. Abubakar, signed the charges.
Some of the charges include: that he, sometime in 2022 in Kaduna, gave support to the Boko Haram terrorist group.
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“That you instigated the Boko Haram terrorist group to boycott the Chief of Defense Staff (COS) Committee set up by the Federal Government to negotiate the release of the hostages (victims) of the Abuja-Kaduna train attack.
“That you acted as negotiator for payment, receipt and delivery of ransom payment from families of the hostages (victims).
“You thereby committed the offence of giving support to terrorist groups for the commission of acts of terrorism contrary to section 13 (2) (c) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition] Act, 2022,” the charge sheet read in part.
Mamu was also alleged to have, sometime in 2022 in Kaduna received ransom payments of $120,000.00 on behalf of the Boko Haram terrorist group from families of hostages (victims) of the Abuja-Kaduna train attack.
“You thereby committed offence of Terrorism Financing contrary to section 21 (3) (a) of Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
“That you, sometime in 2022 in Kaduna did commit an offence in that you received ransom payments of N500 million on behalf of the Boko Haram terrorist group from families of hostages (victims) of the Abuja-Kaduna train attack.
“That you commit an offence by exchanging voice note communications in relation to acts of terrorism with one Baba Adamu (Boko Haram spokesperson).
“And you thereby committed offence of terrorism contrary to section 2 (2) (b) of Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.”
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