BY Bolanle Olabimtan
A federal high court in Abuja has refused to transfer Tukur Mamu, publisher of Desert Herald newspaper, to Kuje prison.
At the last adjourned date, Mamu through his team of lawyers led by Abdul Mohammed, prayed the court to relocate him from the detention facility of the Department of State Services (DSS).
In the application, the defence counsel said the DSS has refused to obey a previous court order which directed that Mamu should be allowed access to his doctors.
He said Mamu would get proper medical attention in Kuje prison.
“This application is brought so that we will take the defendant to the prison because they always obey court orders there. So that if we go there, he will have access to his medical officer,” he said.
“It is completely within the discretion of the court and we do not want to bring an application for contempt as that will take time.”
The defendant pledged availability in court for the case.
However, in his ruling on Monday, Inyang Ekwo, trial judge, said the court considered several factors, including the security situation at various custodial facilities in the country.
According to the court, the defendant failed to refute the claim by the prosecution that there have been rampant jailbreaks in the country.
He held that the failure of the defendant to controvert that claim in the counter-affidavit filed by the prosecution amounted to an admission of the fact.
The court held that the defendant also failed to show that his health needs could not be met at the DSS detention facility.
Consequently, the court refused the application and fixed June 3, 4, 5 and 6 for continuation of the trial.
Meanwhile, the court warned the DSS to comply with its order by granting the defendant access to his doctors.
BACKGROUND
Mamu is standing trial for allegedly aiding the terrorists who attacked the Abuja-Kaduna train in March 2022.
After his arrest in 2022, the federal government said $300,000 was found on him.
He was arraigned in March 2023 by the office of the attorney-general of the federation (AGF) on a 10-count charge bordering on terrorism.
However, in March, he pleaded not guilty to all the counts and denied owing allegiance to the terrorists.
Mamu is alleged to have received $120,000 as ransom payments on behalf of the Boko Haram terrorist group.
The monies were said to have come from families of hostages kidnapped during the train attack.
He was also accused of exchanging voice notes relating to the hostages with one Baba Adamu, a Boko Haram spokesperson.
The federal government also tagged the $300,000 found in Mamu’s possession as terrorist funds.
Mamu, an aide to Ahmad Gumi, a popular Islamic cleric, was involved in negotiations for the release of the passengers abducted during the attack on a Kaduna-bound train.
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