The Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday dismissed a request by alleged terrorist negotiator, Mohammed Tukur Mamu, to be transferred from the Department of State Service’s (DSS) custody to the Kuje Correctional Centre after being arrested at Aminu Kano International Airport upon his arrival from Egypt on September 6, 2022.
Mamu was arrested for his alleged involvement in the terrorist attack on the Abuja-Kaduna train on March 28, 2022, and arraigned by DSS on 10 counts of terrorism financing, among others.
He pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Mamu, through his lawyer, claimed on April 29 that the DSS failed to comply with a court order issued on December 19, 2023, allowing him access to his physician for medical treatment.
In his motion on notice, he claimed that he was allowed access to the physician once, during which a report of a comprehensive medical examination to be carried out on him was submitted to the DSS.
Mamu also alleged that the physician had not been allowed to have access to him and that he needed urgent surgical operations in any hospital in the country.
The defendant further claimed that his health had since deteriorated and that he may die if he is not moved out of DSS custody to Kuje Prison.
However, Justice Inyang Ekwo, in his ruling, said the Federal Government had raised the issue of incessant jailbreaks in prisons as a major reason to oppose the transfer to Kuje.
The judge added that Mamu did not contradict or dispute the allegations, as required by law.
According to the judge, because Mamu did not challenge the averments, they are considered facts, and facts admitted require no further proof.
The judge then ordered Mamu to remain in DSS custody until his trial on the criminal charges against him.
Justice Ekwo, however, upheld his previous order that he be allowed to see his doctor for medical treatment while under the supervision of the DSS.
