Court authorises B’Haram negotiator to see doctors

Tukur Mamu, a former terrorist negotiator, was given permission by the Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday to see his doctor.

In relation to the terror attack on a Kaduna-Abuja train in March of last year, which resulted in the deaths of at least eight people and scores of others being kidnapped for ransom, the publisher and preacher residing in Kaduna is on trial.

Mamu was charged with ten charges, including financing of terrorism, when she was arraigned in March of this year.

He was charged with accepting $120,000 in ransom payments from the relatives of the hostages of the train attack on behalf of the terrorist group Boko Haram. Mamu was also charged with speaking with a Boko Haram spokesman named Baba Adamu via voicemail on terrorist activities.

The Department of State Services requested that he be tried in private in order to protect the prosecution’s witnesses.

Mamu requested permission from the court to see his doctor in a Motion on Notice with the file number FHC/ABJ/CR/96/2023 because his health was getting worse.

In addition, he requested that the court direct the DSS to take him for surgery in accordance with the advice of his Egyptian and Nigerian physicians.

The application was contested by the Federal Government, represented by David Kaswe, in a counter-affidavit.

He said that the DSS had a working hospital and a group of physicians who could take care of his problem.

Next, in light of the charges against him, Kaswe implored the court to deny the application.

In her ruling on Tuesday, Justice Inyang Ekwo questioned Kaswe about the defendant’s right to see his doctor.

“Yes, My Lord, he is, as long as it is within the supervision of our team (of physicians),” he replied in response.

However, Mamu’s doctor was directed by Justice Ekwo to treat him under the DSS medical team’s supervision.

“I issue an order allowing the treating physician to administer medical care to him under the observation of the prosecution’s physician. The judge declared, “This is the order of this court.”