Tukur Mamu
A federal high court in Abuja has again refused to grant bail to Tukur Mamu, publisher of Desert Herald newspaper.
In a ruling on Wednesday, Mohammed Umar, presiding judge, dismissed Mamu’s fresh bail application despite his claims of deteriorating health.
The judge directed the Department of State Services (DSS), which is detaining Mamu, to take him to an appropriate medical facility for proper treatment.
Umar noted that the prosecution has been diligent in handling the case, adding that lack of diligence is one of the key grounds on which bail is granted.
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He further ordered that Mamu be allowed to choose a health facility of his preference and that the DSS should grant him access to his family members.
Wednesday’s ruling marks the third time the court has denied Mamu bail since his arraignment on March 21, 2023, on a 10-count charge bordering on terrorism financing, among other offences.
Mamu was arrested on September 7, 2022, by Egyptian security officials at Cairo International Airport and subsequently repatriated to Nigeria on suspicion of financing terrorism.
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The federal government alleged that he facilitated negotiations between families of hostages abducted during the March 2022 Abuja-Kaduna train attack and members of Boko Haram, for his personal financial gain.
He was also accused of collecting ransom payments from families of abducted victims, confirming the amounts, and ensuring their delivery to the terrorists.
