Court denies Tukur Mamu’s request to be transferred from DSS custody

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has dismissed an application by terrorist negotiator Mohammed Tukur Mamu seeking his transfer from the custody of the Department of State Service (DSS) to the Kuje correctional centre in Abuja.

His application was dismissed on Monday by the trial judge, Justice Inyang Ekwo while delivering the ruling on the application.

Justice Ekwo said the federal government had raised the issue of incessant jailbreaks in prisons as a major reason to oppose the request for transfer to Kuje and further held that Mamu did not contradict or dispute the averments as required by law.

According to the judge, since the averments were not challenged by Mamu, they are deemed to be true facts, and the facts admitted need no further proof.

The judge subsequently ordered Mamu to remain in DSS custody throughout his trial on the criminal charges preferred against him.

Justice Ekwo, however, affirmed his earlier order that the terrorist negotiator be allowed to access his personal physician for medical treatment with the supervision of the DSS.

Mamu, through his lawyer, Abdul Mohammed (SAN), had, on April 29, alleged that the order of the court made on December 19, 2023, that he be allowed access to his personal physician for medical treatment was not complied with by the DSS.

In his motion on notice argued by Mohammed, the terrorist negotiator claimed that he was allowed access to his physician once, during which a report of a comprehensive medical examination to be carried out on him was submitted to the DSS.

Since the submission of the report, Mamu has alleged that the physician has not been allowed to access him and that he needs urgent surgical operations in any hospital in the country.

The defendant further claimed that his health had since deteriorated and that he may lose his life at any moment if he is not moved out of DSS custody to Kuje Correctional Centre.

He promised regular attendance in court, adding that he can only stand trial when alive.

Mamu is standing trial for terrorism offences slammed on him by the federal government and had been in the custody of the DSS following the refusal of the Court to admit him to bail.

It will be recalled that Mamu was arrested at the Aminu Kano International Airport upon his arrival from Egypt on September 6, 2022, over his alleged relationship with the terrorists who attacked the Abuja-Kaduna train on March 28, 2022.

On March 21, 2023, the DSS arraigned him on 10 counts of terrorism financing, among others, but he pleaded not guilty to the charges.

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