An investigator with the Department of State Services has told the Federal High Court in Abuja that complaints lodged by victims against alleged terrorism negotiator, Tukur Mamu, aligned with and reinforced the conclusions reached by the agency during its investigation.
The investigator, who appeared as the sixth prosecution witness in the ongoing terrorism trial, disclosed that several victims rescued after the 2022 Abuja–Kaduna bound train attack formally submitted complaints to the DSS.
The witness, an operative of the service, made this known while being cross-examined by defence counsel, Johnson Usman, SAN, before Justice Mohammed Umar.
During cross-examination, Usman asked the witness, who testified behind a protective screen for security reasons, to confirm whether any of the rescued victims, including the wife of the Commandant of the Nigerian Defence Academy, Jaji, had made complaints against the defendant. The witness responded in the affirmative.
When further pressed on whether the complaints were made verbally or documented, the witness stated that the complaints were submitted in writing.
At that point, counsel to the DSS, David Kaswe, urged the court to restrain the defence from pursuing questions that could expose the identities of victims or witnesses, reminding the court that protective measures had already been granted for all witnesses. In response, Usman argued that none of the names he referenced appeared on the prosecution’s witness list.
The witness told the court that he interviewed six victims in the course of the investigation and clarified that the interviews were conducted outside the presence of Mamu.
Under further questioning, the witness stated that he was not a vocologist and had not studied sound analysis at any higher institution. He nevertheless confirmed that the audio exhibit presented by the prosecution was an extract from a transcribed audio recording of conversations allegedly held between Mamu and the terrorists.
When asked whether he interviewed a former Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor, the witness said he did not. He, however, confirmed that General Abdulkadir Abubakar was interviewed during the investigation, though not in the presence of the defendant.
The witness also told the court that Sheikh Ahmad Gumi and General Jalingo were interviewed separately and outside Mamu’s presence, while Major-General Idris Garba was not interviewed. He further stated that Hannafi of the Defence Military Intelligence was also not interviewed.
Responding to another line of questioning, the witness said members of the Chief of Defence Staff Committee were not interviewed in the presence of the defendant at any point during the investigation. He confirmed that he was aware Mamu had requested a face-to-face interrogation with members of the committee, but said the request was not granted, replying, “No, my lord.”
The witness further confirmed that Mamu informed investigators that he was a publisher of a newspaper and magazine and claimed that his income was derived from journalism. He added that this claim was investigated by the DSS.
Following the conclusion of cross-examination, Kaswe informed the court that the prosecution intended to close its case.
However, defence counsel Usman told the court that the defence preferred to apply for a date to open its case, stating that they would not file a no-case submission “so that the world can see it and God can see it all.”
Justice Umar subsequently adjourned the matter to April 23 for the defendant to open his defence.
What you should know
Tukur Mamu is standing trial over alleged involvement in terrorism-related activities linked to the 2022 Abuja–Kaduna train attack, one of Nigeria’s most significant security incidents.
The DSS maintains that written complaints from rescued victims supported its investigation and prosecution. The trial has drawn attention to the handling of negotiations with terrorist groups, the role of intermediaries, and the protection of victims and witnesses.
With the prosecution set to close its case and the defence preparing to respond, the next phase of the trial is expected to focus on Mamu’s version of events and the credibility of the evidence presented against him.
