The Federal Government on Monday re-arraigned Tukur Mamu, the alleged negotiator for terrorists during the 2022 Abuja-Kaduna train attack, on an amended 17-count charge bordering on terrorism financing, money laundering and unlawful possession of firearms.
Mamu was re-arraigned before Justice Mohammed Umar of the Federal High Court in Abuja, where he pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
The defendant, who was arrested by Egyptian authorities at Cairo International Airport on September 7, 2022, was initially facing a 10-count terrorism-related charge before the Federal Government expanded the case to include additional allegations.
At the resumed hearing, prosecuting counsel and Assistant Director in the Federal Ministry of Justice, David Kaswe, informed the court that an amended charge had been filed on May 26 and duly served on the defence.
Kaswe said the new charges were based on evidence already before the court and sought leave for the defendant to take his plea on the amended information.
Counsel to Mamu, Johnson Usman (SAN), did not object to the application, prompting the court to direct that the amended charges be read to the defendant.
Following his not-guilty plea, the prosecution commenced cross-examination of Mamu, who had earlier opened his defence and testified as the sole witness in his case.
The Federal Government alleged in one of the counts that Mamu provided support to the Boko Haram terrorist group around March 2022 by encouraging its members to reject a negotiation committee established by the military authorities for the release of victims of the Abuja-Kaduna train attack.
According to the prosecution, the move was allegedly intended to strengthen his role in facilitating ransom negotiations between the terrorists and families of abducted passengers.
The government further accused him of obstructing efforts by the military committee set up to secure the release of the hostages.
Mamu was also alleged to have received $120,000 in ransom payments on behalf of the terrorist group from relatives of victims of the train attack.
Other counts accused him of maintaining communications relating to terrorist activities with an alleged Boko Haram spokesperson and dealing in funds suspected to be linked to terrorism.
The prosecution claimed that investigators recovered $269,200, N25.69m, foreign currencies, including Indian rupees, Egyptian pounds and UAE dirhams, from the defendant.
The amended charge also includes money laundering allegations involving the recovered naira and dollar sums.
In addition, Mamu was accused of unlawful possession of a Delta Magnum pump-action firearm and 47 rounds of ammunition without a valid licence, contrary to the provisions of the Firearms Act.
The trial judge subsequently adjourned the matter until June 8 for the continuation of cross-examination.
The case remains one of the high-profile prosecutions linked to the Abuja-Kaduna train attack, which left several passengers dead and many others abducted by terrorists in March 2022.
