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Ransom negotiation: Judge orders DSS to charge Tukur Mamu to court if….

Published

2 years ago

January 23, 2023

Tukur Mamu

Justice Edward Andow, presiding over the Kaduna State High Court 12 has ordered the Directorate of State Services (DSS) to “immediately” charge Tukur Mamu to Court if any offence was discovered about him regarding his alleged involvement in ransom negotiation on behalf of terrorists.

Tukur Mamu, media consultant to Ahmed Gumi, the popular Islamic cleric in Kaduna was arrested in Cairo, capital of Egypt on September 6, 2022.

Mamu, who was at the forefront of negotiations for the release of the Kaduna-train captives, was detained at the Cairo airport and later moved to Nigeria while he was on his way to Saudi Arabia for lesser hajj.

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However, fielding questions from newsmen shortly after Court session on Monday, the lead Counsel to Mamu, Muhammad Sani Katu (SAN) said he was satisfied with the court order, and expressed the belief that the DSS will obey the order.

“The matter came up today (Monday), we served the DSS and the Attorney General, we started the processes. And the Judge gave the order, directing them to charge him to court immediately for any offence, if any, they may have discovered. That is our target. The word used by the Judge is immediately, immediately differs from soon.

“Don’t be surprised if by tomorrow or next or within the week he is being charged to court if there is any offence, but let me come in here by telling you that one must commend the DSS for the manner that they have been handling this matter. We have gone to see our client severally, he has some health challenges, but they have been taking care of that. They have taken him to hospital, they made so much payment towards his health. But our position is not about his health, not just about holding him there.

“The law is very clear, the essence of his arrest is the belief that he had committed an offence, and how do you know that he had committed an offence is to commence an investigation. And once you finished the investigation and you did not find him wanting, you release him, and if you find him wanting, the law says don’t keep him in detention, charge him to court. That is just the fundamentals.

“As far as we concerned the order to keep him for 60 days elapsed in October last year. They have the right to renew, but as it stands now we are not aware as to whether they have renewed or not. They first they are seeking detention, they can go on their own, but the second time there is the need to have the permission of the Attorney General. They can do that without us on notice. But the fact remains that in an attempt to protect the system we are operating, once you obtain an order against somebody you notify him. If you have contact with the persons you notify them, or at least the general public because this is a matter that certain persons are being concerned.

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“When they did that of the 60 days they came out to tell the whole world that they have obtained detention order. Which is okay. Now the 60 days has elapsed, nobody knows whether they have gotten additional extension or not. That is we say the best we could do is to go to court. We are not saying they must release him. Take him to court for determination. After court determination we will know whether he will go to jail or be freed.

“If you recall, there was an arrest of our client, Tukur Mamu in Cairo on his way to Saudi Arabia with some members of his family. He was moved to Abuja and since then he remains under detention. We got to know that there is an order by the DSS to detain him for 60 days. At the expiration of the 60 days we thought the next thing they should do is to charge him to for any offence. As it stands now he has not been charged. And the best we can do for the system is to file legal enforcement wherein our plea which is very clear; release him on administrative bail, if there is anything call administrative bail. Alternatively if you found out that he has committed any offence, charge him to court”. Katu said.

Earlier, in the Motion of Notice dated 22nd Day of November , 2022 through their Counse Mohammed Sani Katu SAN, Solomon Utuagha Esq, Auwal Muktar Surajo Esq and Aisha Musa Esq solicitors to the Applicants sought for

“An order enforcing the Applicants Fundamental Human Rights as gauranteed, enshrined and protected by sections 34,35,36 and 41 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic ,1999, Order 2 of the Fundamental Rights (Enforcement Procedure) Rules, 2009 and Articles 3,5 and 6 of the African Charter on human and People’s Rights for same being breached or likely to be breached by the Respondents, their agents, privies or assigns.

“An Order of this Honourable Court directing the Respondents to immediately arraign and charge the Applicants before a court of competent jurisdiction for any offence(s) as disclosed from.their Investigation (If any).

” Alternatively an Order directing the Respondents to admit the Applicants on bail pending the conclusion of their investigation.

” And for such further or other Orders as this Honourable Court may seem fit to make in the circumstances of this case”

SUN

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Tinubu appoints Jami’u Abiola as Senior Special Assistant

Published

2 hours ago

November 27, 2024

Trends Admin

Jami’u Abiola

Tinubu appoints Jami’u Abiola as Senior Special Assistant

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appointed Jami’u Abiola, son of the late MKO Abiola, as the Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the President on Linguistics and Foreign Matters.

Senator George Akume, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), announced the appointment, which takes effect on November 14, 2024.

Akume’s statement, issued by Mr. Segun Imohiosen, Director of Information and Public Relations, highlighted that the appointment aligns with the Certain Political and Judicial Office Holders (Salaries and Allowances, etc) Act 2008, as amended.

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Before this role, Jami’u Abiola served as the Special Assistant to the President on Special Duties in the Office of the Vice President.

President Tinubu has instructed Abiola to collaborate with the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs and leverage his expertise in his new responsibilities.

Jami’u Abiola is the son of Chief Moshood Abiola (MKO), the acclaimed winner of the annulled June 12, 1993 presidential election, and Kudirat Abiola, who was tragically assassinated during her efforts to restore her husband’s mandate.

Tinubu appoints Jami’u Abiola as Senior Special Assistant

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Hoodlums beat police officer to death in Adamawa

Published

2 hours ago

November 27, 2024

Trends Admin

Adamawa State Police Public Relations Officer, Suleiman Yahaya Nguroje

Hoodlums beat police officer to death in Adamawa

Some hoodlums in Adamawa State have reportedly beaten a policeman, Ibrahim Maizabuwa, to death.

Two persons, Ezekiel Kefas and Stephen Zabadi from Wamsa Suwa Ward in Lamurde LGA of the state, have been arrested in connection with the murder.

The command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Suleiman Yahaya Nguroje, confirmed the incident in a statement on Wednesday.

He stated that the suspects were arrested on November 19, 2024 after the deceased’s son, Danlami Ibrahim Maizabuwa, reported the incident to the police.

According to him, investigations revealed that the police officer was killed and buried in the community.

The deceased was said to have visited his friend, Ezekiel Kefas, in the community.

The police command’s spokesman said during interrogation, Kefas claimed that the officer was killed by a group of thugs after he destroyed property and assaulted people in his (Kefas’) house.

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“My friend came and started destroying property including a pot of soup and water in my house and assaulting people as a result of which women and children raised the alarm which attracted thugs who beat him up.

“Those who killed him include Yakubu, Suleiman and Kilyobas. They beat him up with sticks to death.

“Yesterday, we went to the houses of those who killed him, but we didn’t meet any of them,” Ezekiel was quoted as saying.

The state Police Commissioner, Morris Dankombo, has ordered an investigation into the incident and prosecution of the suspects

Hoodlums beat police officer to death in Adamawa

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Court remands Yahaya Bello, two others in EFCC custody till Dec 10

Published

3 hours ago

November 27, 2024

Trends Admin

Yahaya Bello

Court remands Yahaya Bello, two others in EFCC custody till Dec 10

Former Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, will remain in custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) until December 10 this year, an Abuja High Court has ruled.

Justice Maryann Anenih ordered on Wednesday that he should remain with the anti-graft agency till December 10, when the court would rule on his application for bail.

Also remanded in custody are Bello’s two co-defendants, Umar Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu.

The defendants had pleaded not guilty to a 16-count charge the EFCC preferred against them.

EFCC had specifically urged the court to deny the former governor bail.

The agency, through its team of lawyers led by Mr. Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, told the court that Bello, who is the 1st defendant in the matter, repeatedly refused to make himself available for trial.

It told the court that several efforts to secure his presence before the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court, where he is facing another charge, proved abortive.

Consequently, the commission opposed a bail application that Bello filed through his legal team that was led by a former President of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, Mr. Joseph Daudu, SAN.

Daudu, SAN, had after the former governor and his two co-defendants—Umar Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu—pleaded not guilty to the charge, called the attention of the court to a bail application his client filed on November 22.

In the application he predicated on six grounds, the former governor argued that he enjoys the presumption of innocence under the law.

Insisting that he ought to be seen to be innocent of all the allegations the EFCC levelled against him until his guilt is established, Bello contended that granting him bail would enable him to effectively prepare his defence to the charge.

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His lawyer told the court that his client was only served with a copy of the charge against him around 11 p.m. on Tuesday, November 26.

He said the former governor’s presence in court was in obedience to the summons that was issued to him.

More so, Bello’s lawyer urged the court not to be swayed by EFCC’s claims with regards to a matter not related to the instant charge before it.

The prosecution counsel had informed the court that some of the witnesses billed to testify in the matter were available.

He, therefore, prayed the court to allow the EFCC to open its case immediately, an application that was opposed by the defence counsel.

Besides, EFCC argued that Bello’s bail application was incompetent since it was filed before the defendants were arraigned before the court.

“This court only assumed jurisdiction upon the arraignment of the defendants.

“It is only after arraignment that the bail application can arise and be heard.

“The application is premature, hasty, and contradicts the meaning of bail,” EFCC’s counsel, Pinheiro, SAN, submitted.

Ex-governor Bello and his co-defendants are facing trial over their alleged complicity in a N110 billion fraud.

The charge against the defendants, marked CR/7781, borders on conspiracy, criminal breach of trust, and possession of unlawfully obtained property.

Specifically, the EFCC alleged that the former governor misused state funds to acquire properties, including No. 35 Danube Street, Maitama District, Abuja (N950 million), No. 1160 Cadastral Zone C03, Gwarimpa II District, Abuja (N100 million), and No. 2 Justice Chukwudifu Oputa Street, Asokoro, Abuja (N920 million).

Other properties the defendants allegedly acquired with funds stolen from the Kogi state treasury included Block D Manzini Street, Wuse Zone 4, Abuja (N170 million), Hotel Apartment Community: Burj Khalifa, Dubai (Five Million, Six Hundred and Ninety-Eight Thousand, Eight Hundred and Eighty-Eight Dirhams), Block 18, Gwelo Street, Wuse Zone 4, Abuja (N60 million), and No. 9 Benghazi Street, Wuse Zone 4, Abuja (N310.4 million).

The defendants were also accused of transferring $570,330 and $556,265 to TD Bank, USA, and possessing unlawfully obtained property, including N677.8 million from Bespoque Business Solution Limited.