A federal high court in Abuja has granted the Department of State Services (DSS) the permission to detain Tukur Mamu, the Kaduna train attack negotiator, for 60 more days.
The presiding judge, Nkeonye Maha, issued the ruling on Tuesday in response to an ex-parte motion moved by Ahmed Magaji, counsel for the DSS.
In the motion marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1617/2022 and dated September 12, the DSS urged the court to grant its request to enable it to conclude the investigation on Mamu.
It was reported how Mamu, publisher of Desert Herald, was arrested at the Kano International Airport after he returned from Egypt where he had been detained on his way to Saudi Arabia for lesser hajj.
The DSS spokesperson, Peter Afunanya, on Wednesday explained that he was arrested by foreign partners, adding that Mamu had questions to answer on some security matters in parts of the country.
The statement partly read, “The Department of State Services has been inundated with inquiries in respect of the arrest or otherwise of Tukur Mamu, the self-acclaimed Kaduna train hostage negotiator.
“This is to confirm that Mamu, as a person of interest, was intercepted by Nigeria’s foreign partners in Cairo, Egypt, on September 6, 2022, while on his way to Saudi Arabia. He has since been returned to the country, today, September 7, 2022, and taken into the Service’s custody.
“The act followed a request by Nigeria’s military, law enforcement, and intelligence communities to their foreign partners to bring Mamu back to the country to answer critical questions on ongoing investigations relating to some security matters in parts of the country. The public may wish to note that the law will appropriately take its course.”
Meanwhile, an Islamic cleric, Sheik Gumi, to whom Mamu is an aide, had faulted the arrest of Mamu.
Commenting on his arrest, Gumi had said detaining Mamu is an act of terrorism and that the DSS should either charge him to a court or release him.
Reacting in a statement on Sunday, Peter Afunaya, DSS spokesperson, said the security agency would not be distracted by “skewed utterances”.
He described the outcome of the agency’s investigation of Mamu as “mind-boggling”.
“The service wishes that it is not distracted by some of the skewed narratives pervading the media space,” the DSS spokesperson said.
“Instead, it requests to be left alone to concentrate on the ongoing investigations, the outcomes of which have remained mind-boggling.
“Meanwhile, the service will cease further comments on the subject matter since the court will determine its course.
“Consequently, the public is hereby enjoined to desist from making unguarded utterances and await the court proceedings.”
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