A Federal High Court in Abuja has been told that many of the rescued victims of the 2022 Abuja-Kaduna-bound train attack lodged complaints in the office of the Department of State Service DSS, against the alleged terrorist negotiator, Tukur Mamu.
A DSS operative, who testified as 6th prosecution witness
(PW-6) in the ongoing terrorism trial of Mamu, made the disclosure to Justice
Mohammed Umar on Thursday, while being cross-examined by the defence counsel,
Johnson Usman, SAN.
The lawyer had asked the witness, who gave his testimony
behind a witness screen for security reasons, “to confirm to court if any of
the rescue victims, including the wife of the Commandant in Jaji, made any
complaint against the defendant to the DSS.”
Responding, the witness said: “Yes, my lord.”
When Usman further asked the witness if the complaint by the
rescued victims was either in writing or oral, he said it was in writing.
The DSS’ lawyer, David Kaswe, however, prayed the court to
restrain Usman from delving into questions that might touch on the identity of
victims or witnesses in the case since the court had granted protection to all.
Responding, Usman told the court that none of the names he
called was a witness before the court.
“Even though my lord had granted an order for trial in
camera, a trial in camera is not to prejudice the defendant,” he said.
The witness said he interviewed six victims in the course of
the investigation.
When he was asked if the six victims were interviewed in the
presence of Mamu, the PW-6 responded in the negative.
The witness told the court that he was not a vocologist,
having not studied sound in higher institution.
He, however, confirmed that the audio exhibit tendered by
the prosecution was the extract of the transcribed audio between Mamu and the
terrorists.
When he was asked if he interviewed a former Chief of
Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor (rtd.), he said the army chief was not
interviewed.
The witness, however, admitted that General Abdulkadir
Abubakar was interviewed in the course of investigation.
“When you interviewed him, was it in the presence of the
defendant?” the lawyer asked and he said: “No my lord.”
“Did you interview Sheikh Gumi?” Usman asked and the witness
responded in the affirmative.
“Was it in the presence of the defendant?” Usman asked.
“No my lord,” the witness responded.
“Did you interview Major General Idris Garba?”
“No my lord,” the PW-6 said.
“Did you interview General Jalingo?” the lawyer asked, and
he said: “Yes, my lord.”
The witness said General Jalingo was not interviewed in
Mamu’s presence.
“Finally, did you interviewed Hannafi of Defence Military
Intelligence,” the lawyer asked and the witness responded in the negative.
“Confirm to court, whether at any time in the course of your
investigation, you brought members of the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS)
Committee for interview in the presence of the defendant,” Usman asked and the
witness responded in the negative.
“Please confirm whether you are aware that the defendant has
requested that you brought members of the CDS Committee face to face with him
for interview,” the lawyer asked and the witness said: “Yes, he did.”
“Confirm whether the request of the defendant to have the
CDS and others involved gathered together for interrogation was granted,” Usman
asked, and the witness said:”No, my lord.”
When Usman asked the witness to confirm that Mamu told him
that he is a publisher of a newspaper and magazine, the witness said: “Yes, he
said so.”
When the lawyer asked the witness to confirm that Mamu told
him his means of income was derived from his journalism business, the PW-6
said: “Yes, he claimed ”
“As an investigator, did you investigate this claim,” the
lawyer asked.
“Yes, we did,” he responded.
After the cross-examination, Kaswe told the court the
prosecution’s intention to close its case.
“So that we can allow the defendant to enter his defence if
they are ready,” he said.
But Usman told the court that they would rather apply for a
date to open their defence, .
“We will not file a no-case submission so that the world can
see it and God can see it all,” he said.
Justice Umar then adjourned the matter until April 23 for
Mamu to open his defence.
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