Islamic scholar Tukur Mohammed Mamu, who resides in Kaduna, was charged with terrorism on ten counts by the Federal Government on Tuesday before the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Mamu, who has been in the Department of State Service’s (DSS) custody since last year, appeared before Judge Inyang Edem Ekwo to answer charges related to a violent attack on the Abuja-Kaduna train in which many people were kidnapped.
According to the allegations, Mamu encouraged and assisted Boko Haram terrorist assaults against defenceless Nigerians.
He was accused of extorting money from the relatives of the train assault victims on behalf of the terrorist group Boko Haram, among other things.
Mamu was said to have received $420,000 from the assault victims’ relatives and another N21 million from a different group of families.
He was also charged with violating the Terrorism Prevention, Prohibition Act by hiding the finances for terrorism in his Kaduna home.
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As the accusations were read before Mamu in open court, he refuted each one.
Mohammed Ndanusa, Mamu’s solicitor, submitted a motion requesting bail for his client despite the Federal Government asking for a date to start his trial.
Ndanusa informed the court, among other things, that his client was afflicted with conditions that necessitated an urgent surgical procedure.
The Federal Government vigorously resisted the proposal on the grounds that the DSS hospital’s medical staff could handle all of the problems the accused claimed to have.
Judge Ekwo, however, deferred making a decision until a time that would be announced to the parties after hearing arguments in favour of and against the bail request.
Judge mandated that Mamu be held in DSS custody till the outcome of the bail application.
After the arraignment, Mamu was carried away to the DSS custody after being brought to the court by a retinue of armed security personnel.
