metro

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

Published

1 year 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.

READ ALSO:

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.

READ ALSO:

“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

metro

Missing Delta varsity female student found dead, two suspects arrested

Published

6 hours ago

May 6, 2024

Trends Admin

Miss Faith Omodon

Missing Delta varsity female student found dead, two suspects arrested

Two suspects are in the custody of the Edo State Police Command in connection with the disappearance and death of a 200-level undergraduate of Delta State University of Science and Technology, Agbor, Miss Faith Omodon.

PUNCH Metro learnt that the inhabitants of Iru Egbede community in Orhionmwon Local Government Area of Edo State had, on March 30, reported the sudden disappearance of their daughter who was studying Business Administration at DELSU.

The father of the missing girl, Edward Omodon, had told our correspondent that his daughter was last seen on March 30, after she left home for the farm on a motorcycle. He said the incident occurred when the community was holding their national conference.

“We usually have the Iru National Conference at this time of the year. We were seated inside the community hall when we heard loud wailing outside that my daughter was missing. She had left for the farm earlier that morning with a motorcycle, taking her breakfast in a flask with her,” he said.

However, our correspondent gathered on Sunday that the community’s vigilante group arrested and handed over two suspects in connection with the disappearance.

READ ALSO:

Speaking with PUNCH Metro on the incident, on Sunday, the National Youth Chairman of Iru- Egbede, Donald Isioma, disclosed that the suspects were arrested on Saturday afternoon.

He said the two were arrested when the phone of the deceased was tracked and traced to the suspects.

Isioma added, “The police have recovered the phone from the suspects and the motorbike Omodon rode to the farm on the day she went missing.

“One of the suspects who is a member of the community has confessed that they had killed the girl while being interrogated at the Okpaihe Police Station before the case was transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Benin.”

When contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Chidi Nwabuzor, said information concerning the arrest had yet to reach him but promised to get back as soon as he contacted men of the SCID. He had yet to do that as of the time of filing this report on Sunday evening.

Missing Delta varsity female student found dead, two suspects arrested

metro

NAF airstrikes kill scores of terrorists in Borno, Niger enclaves

Published

7 hours ago

May 6, 2024

Trends Admin

NAF airstrikes kill scores of terrorists in Borno, Niger enclaves

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Sunday said the air components of Operations Hadin Kai and Whirl Punch in the North East and North Central killed many terrorists in airstrikes in Borno and Niger.

The Director, Public Relations and Information, NAF, AVM Edward Gabkwet, disclosed this in a statement.

Gabkwet said the air components had continued to obliterate terrorists and destroy their structures, equipment and mobility, thereby limiting their ability to attack ground troops and innocent Nigerians at will.

He said that in the North East, the air interdiction was on May 3 authorized and conducted over Chinene, a location tucked inside the Mandara Mountain.

He said terrorists had been observed to be emanating from various locations and assembling ostensibly for a meeting.

According to him, seven gun trucks were also observed parked under trees within the same location.

Gabkwet said the aircraft bombarded the assembly area and tree coverings and destroyed their weapons and mobility.

He said that the Battle Damage Assessment revealed that the strikes were successful as several terrorists were neutralised and logistics destroyed.

READ ALSO:

He said similar airstrikes were conducted same day by the air component of Operation Whirl Punch in a pre-emptive air strikes over terrorists hibernating at Allawa village, near Shiroro town in Niger.

The NAF spokesman said the mission was conducted following credible intelligence which revealed the migration of terrorists into the village after the mass exit of locals for fear of their safety.

He said the terrorists had, on May 1, stormed the deserted Allawa community in Shiroro Local Government Area and torched the Central Primary School.

“In the evening of the same day, another group of terrorists also arrived at the location, wielding AK-47/49 rifles after invading Galapai village in Galadima Kogo District of Shiroro.

“Accordingly, to prevent further occupation as well as pursue the terrorists from the location, the air component scrambled a formation of its platforms to attack the location.

“On arrival at the location, several terrorists were sighted and engaged effectively.

“Furthermore, following credible intelligence as well as detailed aerial observation, which confirmed the presence of their cache of arms hidden inside Allawa Forest, the air component further carried out air strikes at the location,” he said.

Gabkwet also said that the NAF carried out air strikes North of Arugbana and Temakiri in the Niger Delta, where illegal refining sites were observed and destroyed.

He said through this action, the capabilities of oil thieves to continually sabotage and destroy oil pipelines were minimised.