Why Tukur Mamu requested transfer from DSS custody to Kuje Prison
Rewrite by Ahmad AYUBA
Tukur Mamu, a renowned journalist currently standing trial for alleged terrorism offences, has prayed Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja, to order his transfer from the custody of the Department of State Service (DSS) to the Kuje Correctional Centre.
At the resumption of his trial, Mamu through his lawyer, Abdul Mohammed, alleged that the DSS has not been complying with the order of the court made on December 19, 2023 that he be allowed access to his personal physician for medical treatment.
READ ALSO: Court grants Tukur Mamu access to personal physician
In his motion on notice argued by Mohammed, Mamu claimed that he was allowed access to the physician only once, during which a report of comprehensive medical examination to be carried out on him was submitted to the DSS.
Since the submission of the report, Mamu alleged that the physician had not been allowed to have access to him and that he needs urgent surgical operations in any hospital in the county.
The embattled publisher further claimed that his health had since deteriorated and that he might lose his life any moment, if he was not moved out of DSS custody to Kuje prison where he hopes to have greater access to medical care.
Tukur Mamu, who has been in DSS detention since his arrest in 2022 for allegedly, “aiding the terrorists who attacked the Abuja-, Kaduna train in March, 2022”, was listed recently by the Nigerian Finance Intelligence Unit, NFIU, as being “among fifteen terrorism financiers.”
In its charge, the NFIU said the sum of $300, 000 dollars which it tagged, “terrorist funds”, was found in Mamu’s custody during his arrest, adding that he “participated in the financing and delivering ransom payments over the sum of $200,000, in support of ISWAP terrorists for the release of hostages of the Abuja-kaduna train attack.”
Justices Inyang Ekwo fixed May 20th for ruling on the prayers.
