By Taiye Agbaje
Mr Tukur Mamu, a former terrorist negotiator, has pleaded not guilty to a 10-count charge of terrorism financing, among others, brought by the Federal Government against him.
Mamu, who was arraigned on Tuesday before Justice Inyang Ekwo of a Federal High Court in Abuja by the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), denied allegiance to the terrorists.
On September 13, 2022, Justice Nkeonye Maha of a sister court granted the Department of State Services (DSS) permission to detain the former terrorists’ negotiator for 60 days in order to complete its investigation into Mamu, who led the negotiation with the terrorists for the release of the Abuja-Kaduna train passengers abducted in March 2022.
Mr M.B. Abubakar, the Federation’s Director of Public Prosecutions, signed the charge.
Mamu is accused of accepting $120,000.00 in ransom payments from families of hostages (victims) of the Abuja/Kaduna train attack on behalf of the Boko Haram terrorist group.
According to the federal government, the offence violates Section 21 (3) (a) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
The attorney general also claimed that Mamu received N500,000 in ransom payments from families of hostages (victims) of the Abuja/Kaduna train attack in 2022 in Kaduna on behalf of the Boko Haram terrorist group.
Mamu is also accused of exchanging voice note communications related to terrorist acts with one Baba Adamu (a Boko Haram spokesperson)
The federal government also accused Mamu of dealing in terrorist funds worth $300,000, which were discovered in his possession.
NAN
