By Taiye Agbaje
A Department of State Services (DSS)’ investigator, on Thursday, told the Federal
High Court in Abuja that many of the rescued victims of the 2022 Abuja-Kaduna
train attack lodged complaints against the alleged terrorist negotiator, Tukur
Mamu.
The DSS operative, who testified as 6th prosecution witness (PW-6) in the ongoing
terrorism trial of Mamu, made the disclosure to Justice Mohammed Umar 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 (retd.), 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 Gen. 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 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.
