Court Fixes January 27, 2027, for Judgment in Terrorism Trial of Tukur Mamu

The Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed January 27, 2027, for judgment in the terrorism-related trial of Tukur Mamu, who was involved in negotiations for the release of hostages abducted during the 2022 Abuja-Kaduna train attack.

Justice Mohammed Umar fixed the date on Monday after lawyers representing the Federal Government and Mamu adopted their final written addresses and presented their closing arguments.

The Federal Government’s lawyer, David Kaswe, urged the court to convict Mamu, insisting that the prosecution had established its case against him. However, the defendant’s senior counsel, Johnson Usman, SAN, asked the court to acquit and discharge his client, arguing that the allegations had not been proven.

Usman challenged the prosecution’s handling of evidence relating to a rifle allegedly recovered from Mamu’s residence. He maintained that the defence had repeatedly requested the firearm licence but that the prosecution had failed to produce it in court.

The lawyer argued that the defence’s position was that the licence had not expired when Mamu was arrested. He said the prosecution’s failure to present the document raised doubts that should be resolved in favour of his client.

However, Kaswe disagreed, telling the court that both the rifle and its licence had already been tendered as exhibits during the testimony of the prosecution’s fifth witness, an exhibit keeper. He also reminded the court that it had approved an application for the safekeeping of the firearm and other exhibits.

During proceedings, Usman also commended the Department of State Services (DSS) for allowing Mamu’s family members access to him in compliance with a court order.

Mamu was initially arrested on September 7, 2022, by Egyptian security officials at Cairo International Airport. He was subsequently arraigned by the Federal Government on allegations bordering on terrorism financing, among other offences. The prosecution later amended the charges, increasing them to 17 counts, including unlawful possession of firearms and money laundering-related allegations.

The case, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/96/2023, includes allegations that Mamu provided support to Boko Haram and interfered with the Federal Government’s Chief of Defence Staff Committee, which was established to negotiate the release of hostages abducted during the Abuja-Kaduna train attack.

In one of the counts, the prosecution alleged that Mamu received $120 million in ransom payments on behalf of the terrorist group from families of the victims. He was also accused of communicating with a Boko Haram spokesperson, dealing in terrorist property and possessing foreign currencies allegedly linked to terrorist funds.

Another charge accused him of unlawfully possessing about 47 cartridges without a valid firearms licence.

Mamu pleaded not guilty to the charges when he was re-arraigned on June 1. The Federal Government subsequently called seven witnesses before closing its case, after which Mamu opened his defence on April 23 and testified as the sole defence witness.

With both sides having presented their final arguments, Justice Umar adjourned the matter until January 27, 2027, for judgment. The allegations against Mamu remain before the court, and no conviction has been entered.