Former terrorist negotiator, Mohammed Tukur Mamu, who is standing trial for terrorism offences, has applied to the Federal High Court in Abuja to transfer him out of Department of State Services (DSS) custody.

He pleaded with Justice Inyang Ekwo to vary the remand order against him for a remand at Kuje correctional centre, instead of DSS custody.

At the resumption of his trial, yesterday, Mamu through his lawyer, Abdul Mohammed (SAN), alleged that the court on December 19, 2023, ordered that he be allowed access to his physician for medical treatment was not complied with by DSS.

In his motion on notice argued by Mohammed, the former terrorist negotiator claimed that he was only allowed access to the physician once during which a report of comprehensive medical examination to be carried out on him was submitted to the DSS.

Since the submission of the report, Mamu alleged, the physician had not been allowed to access him, adding that he needed urgent surgery in any hospital in the country.

The defendant further claimed that his health had since deteriorated and that he might lose his life any moment if he was not moved out of DSS custody.

He promised regular attendance at the trial for terrorism charges, noting that he could only stand trial when alive.

In a turn of events, Federal Government counsel, David Kaswe, who was to respond to Mamu’s request, suddenly disappeared from the courtroom without any notification. The situation forced the court to stand down the proceeding for over one hour, but the prosecution counsel did not still show up.

Justice Ekwo invoked the rule of the court and ordered that the processes filed by the lawyer against Mamu’s application be deemed adopted.

The Judge subsequently fixed May 20 for ruling on whether to move the defendant out of DSS custody to Kuje prison.

Mamu was arrested at the Aminu Kano International Airport (AKIA) upon his arrival from Egypt on September 6, 2022, over his alleged relationship with the terrorists who attacked the Abuja-Kaduna train on March 28, 2022.

Consequently, the DSS, on March 21, 2023, arraigned him on 10 counts of terrorism financing, among others but he pleaded not guilty to the charges.