Many of the rescued victims of the 2022 Abuja-Kaduna train attack filed charges against Tukur Mamu, the alleged terrorist negotiator, according to a Department of State Services (DSS) investigator who testified before the Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday.
During cross-examination by defense attorney Johnson Usman, SAN, the DSS agent revealed the information to Justice Mohammed Umar while testifying as the sixth prosecution witness (PW-6) in Mamu’s ongoing terrorism trial.
The witness, who testified behind a witness screen for security purposes, was asked by the attorney “to confirm to the court if any of the rescue victims, including the wife of the Commandant in Jaji, made any complaint against the defendant to the DSS.”
The witness said, “Yes, my lord.”
The witness responded that the rescued victims’ complaint was in writing when Usman inquired if it was oral.
Advertisements by
However, David Kaswe, the attorney for the DSS, asked the court to prevent Usman from asking questions that could reveal the identities of the victims or witnesses in the case because everyone had been granted protection.
In response, Usman informed the court that none of the individuals he had called were present witnesses.
“A trial in camera is not to prejudice the defendant, even though my lord had granted an order for it,” he stated.
During the investigation, the witness claimed to have spoken with six victims.
The PW-6 gave a negative response when asked if Mamu was present when the six victims were interviewed.
Since he had not attended a university to study sound, the witness informed the court that he was not a vocologist.
However, he acknowledged that the prosecution’s audio exhibit was a transcription of the conversation between Mamu and the terrorists.
He said that he had not interviewed General Lucky Irabor (retd.), a former chief of defense staff.
However, the witness acknowledged that General Abdulkadir Abubakar was questioned as part of the inquiry.
The attorney inquired, “Did you interview him in front of the defendant?” He responded, “No, my lord.”
Have you conducted an interview with Sheikh Gumi? The witness said “yes” when Usman asked.
“Did the defendant witness it?” Usman enquired.
The witness answered, “No, my lord.”
“Have you conducted an interview with Major General Idris Garba?”
The PW-6 replied, “No, my lord.”
“Yes, my lord,” he replied when the lawyer inquired if he had interviewed General Jalingo.
According to the witness, Mamu was not present when Gen. Jalingo was interviewed.
The witness said, “Finally, did you interview Hannafi of Defence Military Intelligence?” in response to the lawyer’s question.
Usman asked the witness, “Confirm to the court, whether at any time during your investigation, you brought members of the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Committee for interview in the presence of the defendant.” The witness answered negatively.
The lawyer asked, “Please confirm whether you are aware that the defendant has requested that you bring members of the CDS Committee face to face with him for interview.” The witness responded, “Yes, he did.”
Usman asked, “Confirm whether the defendant’s request to have the CDS and others involved gathered together for interrogation was granted.” The witness responded, “No, my lord.”
The witness said, “Yes, he said so,” when Usman asked him to verify that Mamu had informed him that he publishes a newspaper and magazine.
The PW-6 said, “Yes, he claimed,” when the attorney asked the witness to verify that Mamu had informed him that his source of income came from his journalism business.
“Did you look into this claim as an investigator?” the attorney inquired.
He said, “Yes, we did.”
Kaswe informed the court that the prosecution planned to end its case following the cross-examination.
“If the defendant is prepared, we can let him enter his defense,” he stated.
However, Usman informed the court that they would prefer to request a date to begin their defense.
He declared, “We will not file a no-case submission so that the world and God can see it all.”
After that, Judge Umar postponed the case until April 23 so that Mamu could present his defense.
