Justice Edward Andow of the Kaduna State High Court 12 has ordered the Department of State Services (DSS) to (immediately) charge a lead negotiator between the Nigerian government and bandits in Norther Nigeria Tukur, Mamu to Court if any offence was discovered about him regarding his alleged involvement in ransom negotiation on behalf of terrorists who kidnapped the Abuja-Kaduna train passengers on March 28th, 2022.
Mamu, a publisher of Desert Herald newspaper and media consultant to Sheikh Ahmed Gumi, a popular Kaduna Islamic was arrested in Cairo, Egypt on September 6, 2022 enroute Saudi Arabia with his family members.
Mamu, who was at the forefront of negotiations for the release of the Kaduna-train captives, was detained at the Cairo airport and later moved to Nigeria before picked up by the DSS and has remained in custody ever since then.
Mamu had through a Motion of Notice dated 22nd Day of November, 2022 through his Counsels Mohammed Sani Katu (SAN), Solomon Utuagha Esq, Auwal Muktar Surajo Esq and Aisha Musa Esq sought for;
“An order enforcing the Applicants Fundamental Human Rights as guaranteed, enshrined and protected by sections 34,35,36 and 41 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic ,1999, Order 2 of the Fundamental Rights (Enforcement Procedure) Rules, 2009 and Articles 3,5 and 6 of the African Charter on human and People’s Rights for same being breached or likely to be breached by the Respondents, their agents, privies or assigns.
“An Order of this honourable court directing the Respondents to immediately arraign and charge the Applicants before a court of competent jurisdiction for any offence(s) as disclosed from.their Investigation (If any).
“Alternatively, an order directing the respondents to admit the applicants on bail pending the conclusion of their investigation.
“And for such further or other orders as this honourable court may seem fit to make in the circumstances of this case”
At the hearing yesterday, the presiding justice Andow granted one of their prayers that the Applicant be charged to court if found wanting in their investigations.
Meanwhile, fielding questions from newsmen shortly after the Court session on the outcome of the court session, the lead counsel to Mamu, Muhammad Sani Katu (SAN) said he was satisfied with the court order, and expressed the belief that the DSS will obey the order.
“The matter came up today (Monday), we served the DSS and the Attorney General, we started the processes. And the Judge gave the order, directing them to charge him to court immediately for any offence, if any, they may have discovered. That is our target. The word used by the Judge is immediately, immediately differs from soon.
“Don’t be surprised if by tomorrow or next or within the week he is being charged to court if there is any offence, but let me come in here by telling you that one must commend the DSS for the manner that they have been handling this matter. We have gone to see our client several times. He has some health challenges, but they have been taking care of that. They have taken him to hospital, they made so much payment towards his health. But our position is not about his health, not just about holding him there.
“The law is very clear, the essence of his arrest is the belief that he had committed an offence, and how do you know that he had committed an offence is to commence an investigation. And once you finished the investigation and you did not find him wanting, you release him, and if you find him wanting, the law says don’t keep him in detention, charge him to court. That is just the fundamentals.
“As far as we are concerned the order to keep him for 60 days elapsed in October last year. They have the right to renew, but as it stands now, we are not aware as to whether they have renewed or not. First, they are seeking detention, they can go on their own, but the second time there is the need to have the permission of the Attorney-general.
“They can do that without us on notice. But the fact remains that in an attempt to protect the system we are operating, once you obtain an order against somebody you notify him. If you have contact with the persons, you notify them, or at least the general public because this is a matter that certain persons are being concerned about.
“When they did that for 60 days, they came out to tell the whole world that they had obtained a detention order. Which is okay. Now the 60 days have elapsed, nobody knows whether they have gotten additional extensions or not. That is, we say the best we could do is to go to court. We are not saying they must release him. Take him to court for determination. After court determination we will know whether he will go to jail or be freed.
“If you recall, there was an arrest of our client, Tukur Mamu in Cairo on his way to Saudi Arabia with some members of his family. He was moved to Abuja and since then he remains under detention. We got to know that there is an order by the DSS to detain him for 60 days. At the expiration of the 60 days, we thought the next thing they should do is to charge him for any offence. As it stands now, he has not been charged. And the best we can do for the system is to file legal enforcement wherein our plea which is very clear; release him on administrative bail, if there is anything call administrative bail. Alternatively, if you found out that he has committed any offence, charge him to court,” Katu said.
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