AMILOADED MEDIA HUB NEWS UPDATE
Alleged Boko Haram negotiator, Tukur Mamu was a moment ago arraigned on a 10-count charge before a Federal High Court in Abuja.
Mamu was charged with terrorism related offences, including receiving ransoms from families of victims of the Kaduna train attack, dealing with terrorists funds, obstructing the activities of the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) committee to negotiate those who kept hostage victims of the train attack, exchanging voice notes with Boko Haram spokesperson, among others.
Mamu, who was arraigned alone, pleaded not guilty when the charge was read to him.
According to Nation report, His lawyer, Mohammed Katu (SAN) argued the defendant’s bail application, and prayed the court to admit Mamu on bail, a request the prosecuting lawyer, Mrs. Aderonke Imana objected to, on the grounds that Mamu’s health condition was not beyond what officials of the State Security Service (SSS) could handle.
Justice Inyang Ekwo reserved ruling to a date to be communicated to parties, but ordered that Mamu, who has been in SSS’ custody since his arrest last year, should remain in the same custody pending the delivery of the reserved ruling.
Details shortly…
An accused is innocent until proven guilty otherwise it is curious that since the arrest of this accused, kidnappings have magically almost disappeared. Moreso, his supposed principal blew hot that the arrest of this accused is wrong and thus the fight against the menace will not succeed because the kidnappers have offered to negotiate and government refused. I believe the principal is not blameless, but for the need for more concrete proof he should equally be questioned.
We thank the government for doing the needful. It should have been done earlier.