BY: News Peddlers
The Department of State Services informed a Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday that it discovered during its preliminary investigation that terrorits' negotiator, Tukur Mamu, was involved in the supply of logistics and aiding and abetting terrorism under the umbrella of journalism.
The allegation was made in an affidavit filed with the court and deposed by Hamza Pandogari, the organization's legal officer.
According to the DSS, Mamu was apprehended by INTERPOL in Cairo, Egypt, on September 6, 2022, while on his way to Saudi Arabia for a covert meeting with commanders and top leaders of terrorist organizations from around the world.
"That upon his arrest and subsequent repatriation to Nigeria, a duly signed search warrant was executed in his residence and office at No. 4, Ali Ladan Street, Sabon Kawo GRA and No. 14, Mamona Road, Anguwan Sarki, Kaduna State, and various exhibits and items to establish his complicity with terrorists were recovered," Pandogari said.
According to the DSS, some of the items recovered from Manu's residence and office included $151, 20 pounds sterling, 1,530 Indian rupees, one Saudi Riyald, 70 Dirham, N1,506,000, and 16 assorted foreign coins.
The DSS also claimed that among the 34 items recovered were two packs of pump action cartridges; 16 ATM (automated teller machine) cards from both local and foreign banks; seven cheque books from various banks; six laptops; four tablets; 24 handsets and three international passports belonging to Mamu; one firearm licence; eight pieces of Nigerian Army uniforms; and sixteen pieces of Nigerian Naval uniforms.
According to the preliminary findings of the investigation, "the defendant (Mamu) has used the cover of his profession as a journalist to aid both local and international terrorist groups."
The DSS also claimed that Mamu's actions killed many "security personnel in Nigeria's North-Central and North-East."
Meanwhile, Justice Nkeonye Maha granted an ex-parte motion brought by DSS counsel Ahmed Magaji to detain Mamu for another 60 days.
(PUNCH)