From Olalekan Awojodu, Abuja.
One year after the Abuja-Kaduna train attack, the Federal Government on Tuesday arraigned a Kaduna based Islamic Scholar, Tukur Mohammed Mamu, on 10- count charge of terrorism.
About 34 terrorist on motorbikes attacked the train that was moving from Abuja en route Kaduna at Katari, Kaduna State on March 28, 2022 at about 7.45pm. They opened fire and bombed the train twice. Eight people were killed immediately by insurgents believed to be Fulani herdsmen, or Boko Haram insurgents. Approximately 970 passengers were on board the train. Over 100 passengers were taken as hostages and led into the forest. 63 passengers were released piecemeal between March and August, 2022. Some of the casualties of the attack included a Medical Doctor, Chinelo Megafu Chinelo, Amin Mahmoud, and APC youth leader, Tibile Mosugu, a lawyer, and Mr Musa Lawal-Ozigi, Secretary General, Trade Union Congress.
Mamu who has been in the custody of the Department of the State Service DSS since last year was docked before Justice Inyang Edem Ekwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja for offences relating to violent attack on Abuja-Kaduna train in which several persons were abducted.
In the charges, the Federal Government accused Mamu of aiding and abetting Boko Haram terrorism attacks against innocent Nigerians. Among others, he was accused of collecting various sums of money in various currencies on behalf of Boko Haram terrorists from the families of the train attack victims.
Specifically, Mamu was said to have collected $420, 000 Dollars from families of the attack, and another N21 million from other set of families of the train attack. Similarly, Mamu was accused of concealing the terrorism funds in his Kaduna residence in violation of provisions of Terrorism Prevention, Prohibition Act.
However Mamu denied all the changes when read to him in the open court.
Though the Federal Government asked for a date to commence his trial, Mamu’s lawyer, Mohammed Ndanusa moved a motion requesting bail for his client. Among others, Ndanusa told the court that his client is suffering ailments that required urgent surgical operation.
The request was vehemently opposed by the Federal Government on the ground that all ailments claimed by Mamu can be treated by Medical Doctors with the DSS hospital.
However, after taking arguments for and against the bail request, Justice Ekwo reserved ruling till a date that would be communicated to parties. The Judge ordered that Mamu remains in the custody of the DSS pending the ruling on the bail application.
Mamu who was moved to the court by a retinue of armed security operatives was taking away to the DSS custody immediately after the arraignment.
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