DSS to Court: Mamu is Part of International Terror Syndicate

Nigeria’s Department of State Services (DSS), on Tuesday, told a Federal High Court, Abuja, that the detained negotiator for the Abuja-Kaduna train kidnap victims, Tukur Mamu, was part of an international terrorist network that used the cover of journalism to perpetrate crime.

The allegation formed part of an affidavit presented before a Federal High Court in Abuja to secure the court’s permission to keep Mamu in DSS custody, pending the conclusion of investigation.

The agency said Mamu, who had negotiated the release of some victims kidnapped during the Abuja-Kaduna train attack by terrorists, was arrested on his way to an international terrorist summit in Egypt.

In the affidavit in support of its ex-parte application marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1617/2022, the DSS begged the court to allow it keep Mamu for further investigation, because it had established act of terrorism financing against him.

Following the submission, Justice Nkeonye Maha of the Federal High Court, Abuja, ordered Mamu’s detention for the next 60 days. Maha added that if not done with its investigation within the period, the agency could come back to the court to renew the detention order.

In the motion dated and filed on September 12 by its lawyer, Mr U.N. Dauda, DSS had sought “an order enabling the State Security Service/applicant to detain the respondent (Mamu) for a period of Sixty (60) days in the first instance, pending the conclusion of investigation.”

Deponent of the affidavit, Mr Hamza Pandogari, a legal officer with the DSS, told the court why it was necessary to detain Mamu for 60 days in the first instance, pending the conclusion of investigation of various acts of terrorism against him.

According to the affidavit, “The self-acclaimed Kaduna train negotiator exploit the opportunity to perpetrate, aid and abets as well as render support to both local and international terrorist organisations.”

DSS stated that Mamu “was intercepted by the Nigerian foreign partners at Cairo, Egypt, on September 6, 2022, while on his way to Saudi Arabia for a clandestine meeting with commanders and top leaders of terrorists organisations across the globe.”

The deponent said upon his interception, and subsequent repatriation back to Nigeria, a duly signed search warrant was executed in his residence and office at No. 4, Ali Ladan Street, Sabon Kawo GRA and No. 14, Mamona Road, Anguwan Sarki, Kaduna State and various exhibits and items to establish his complicity with terrorists were recovered.

Some of the items the agency said it recovered from Manu’s residence and office included 151 dollars, 20 pounds sterling; 1, 530 Indian Rupees; one Saudi Riyald; 70 Dirham; one million, five hundred and six thousand naira; and 16 assorted foreign coins.

The DSS also alleged that two packs of pump action cartridges; 16 ATM (auto-mated machine) cards from both local and foreign banks; seven cheque books of different banks; six laptops; four tablets; 24 handsets and three international passports belonging to Mamu; one firearm licence; eight pieces of Nigerian Army uniforms; 16 pieces of Nigerian Naval uniforms, were recovered.

The agency claimed that the “preliminary investigation so far established, amongst others, were the offences of logistic supplier, aiding and abetting acts of terrorism as well as terrorism financing.

The DSS claimed that the defendant had used the cover of his profession as a journalist to aid both local and international terrorist groups.

It stated, “That the action of the defendant has orchestrated the untimely death of several security personnel in North-central and North-east parts of Nigeria.

“That the defendant has discreetly given several information to bandits and terrorists that escalated various acts of terrorism in Nigeria.

“That the investigation has assumed a wider dimension and sophistication requiring time and advance expertise to conclude.

“That some of the suspects working with the defendant are at large and premature release of the defendant will jeopardise the on-going investigation.

“That it is in the interest of justice and national security to grant this application. That the activities of the defendant and his associates at large constitute a potent threat to the unity and peaceful co-existence of Nigeria.”

Alex Enumah

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