A Department of State Services investigator has told the Federal High Court in Abuja that several victims rescued from the 2022 Abuja Kaduna train attack submitted written complaints against alleged terrorist negotiator Tukur Mamu.
The operative, who testified as the sixth prosecution witness and gave evidence behind a screen for security reasons, made the disclosure while being cross examined by Mamu’s lead counsel, Johnson Usman, SAN. Asked if any of the rescued victims, including the wife of the Commandant in Jaji, lodged complaints against Mamu, he replied in the affirmative and confirmed the complaints were in writing.
DSS lawyer David Kaswe urged the court to stop the defence from asking questions that might reveal the identities of victims or witnesses, reminding the court that an order for their protection had been granted. Usman argued that none of the names he mentioned was listed as a witness and insisted that the order for trial in camera should not prejudice the defendant.
The witness said he interviewed six rescued victims during the investigation. He confirmed that none of these interviews was conducted in Mamu’s presence.
He further told the court he is not a vocologist and did not study sound in higher institutions but maintained that the audio exhibit tendered by the prosecution was an extract of a transcribed conversation between Mamu and the terrorists.
Under cross examination, the witness confirmed that former Chief of Defence Staff General Lucky Irabor was not interviewed. He, however, said retired General Abdulkadir Abubakar and General Jalingo were interviewed, though not in Mamu’s presence. He added that popular Islamic cleric Sheikh Ahmad Gumi was also interviewed without Mamu being present.
Asked about other security officials, the witness said he did not interview Major General Idris Garba or Hannafi of Defence Military Intelligence. He also confirmed that members of the Chief of Defence Staff Committee were never brought for joint interrogation in the presence of the defendant, despite Mamu’s request.
According to him, Mamu told investigators that he is a publisher of a newspaper and magazine and that his income comes from journalism. The witness said this claim was investigated by the DSS.
After the cross examination, prosecution counsel Kaswe informed the court that the prosecution was closing its case so that the defence could be opened. Usman responded that the defence would not file a no case submission, saying they wanted the full proceedings to be seen by the world and by God.
Justice Mohammed Umar adjourned the case until April 23 for Tukur Mamu to open his defence.
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