The Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed January 27, 2027, for judgment in the terrorism-related trial of Tukur Mamu, who is accused of negotiating with terrorists involved in the 2022 Abuja-Kaduna train attack.
Justice Mohammed Umar fixed the date on Monday after lawyers representing the Federal Government and Mamu adopted their final written addresses and presented their arguments before the court.
The Federal Government was represented by its counsel, David Kaswe, while Mamu was represented by his lawyer, Johnson Usman, SAN.
Mamu, who was arrested by Egyptian security officials at Cairo International Airport on September 7, 2022, was initially arraigned on a 10-count charge bordering on terrorism financing.
However, the prosecution subsequently amended the charges to include additional offences, such as unlawful possession of firearms without a valid licence and money laundering.
At Monday’s proceedings, Usman informed the court that the matter was scheduled for the adoption of the parties’ final written addresses.
The defence counsel argued that the prosecution had failed to produce the licence for a rifle allegedly recovered from Mamu’s residence, despite repeated requests by the defence.
“You mean the expired licence?” Justice Umar asked.
In response, Usman maintained that the defence’s position was that the licence was still valid at the time of Mamu’s arrest.
He argued that although the prosecution had taken custody of the rifle and its licence, its failure to produce the document before the court raised questions that should be resolved in his client’s favour.
According to him, the defence had requested the production of the licence on three separate occasions without success.
However, the Federal Government’s lawyer disagreed with the defence’s submission, insisting that the rifle and its licence had already been tendered as exhibits before the court.
Kaswe recalled that the prosecution had earlier applied to the court for permission to keep the rifle and other exhibits in safe custody, an application that was granted.
The prosecution counsel subsequently adopted the Federal Government’s final written address, dated September 18 and filed on September 21.
Meanwhile, Usman commended the Department of State Services (DSS) for granting members of Mamu’s family access to him in compliance with the court’s order.
After listening to both parties, Justice Umar adjourned the matter until January 27, 2027, for judgment.
