Bolatito Mercy
The Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed January 27, 2027, to deliver judgment in the terrorism-related case instituted by the Federal Government against Tukur Mamu, who was accused of negotiating with terrorists involved in the 2022 Abuja-Kaduna train attack.
Justice Mohammed Umar scheduled the judgment date after the prosecution and defence teams presented and adopted their respective final written addresses.
The Federal Government was represented by its counsel, David Kaswe, while Mamu was represented by Johnson Usman, SAN.
Mamu was arrested on September 7, 2022, by Egyptian security operatives at Cairo International Airport. He was subsequently arraigned on a 10-count charge bordering on terrorism financing.
The prosecution later amended the charges to include additional allegations, among them unlawful possession of firearms without a valid licence and money laundering.
During Monday’s proceedings, Usman informed the court that the matter was scheduled for the adoption of the parties’ final written addresses.
The defence counsel argued that the prosecution had failed to present the licence for the rifle allegedly recovered from Mamu’s residence, despite repeated requests by the defence.
Justice Umar sought clarification on whether the defence was referring to an expired licence.
In response, Usman maintained that the defence’s position was that the licence was still valid when his client was arrested.
He further argued that although the prosecution had taken custody of both the firearm and its licence, its failure to produce the document before the court raised doubts that should be resolved in Mamu’s favour.
According to him, the defence had made three separate requests for the document without success.
However, Kaswe disagreed with the defence’s position, insisting that both the rifle and its licence had already been tendered as exhibits before the court.
The prosecution counsel also recalled that the court had granted an application for the safe custody of the rifle and other exhibits.
Kaswe subsequently adopted the Federal Government’s final written address, dated September 18 and filed on September 21.
Meanwhile, Usman commended the Department of State Services (DSS) for allowing members of Mamu’s family access to him in compliance with the court’s order.
After hearing submissions from both parties, Justice Umar adjourned the matter until January 27, 2027, for judgment.
