By Taiye Agbaje
The Federal High Court in Abuja, on Monday, adjourned the fundamental rights
enforcement suit filed by the alleged terrorist negotiator, Mr Tukur Mamu, against
the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) to April 23 for adoption of written
addresses.
Mamu, in the suit, is challenging his designation as a “terrorist” by the AGF, while
standing trial.
The matter, which was scheduled for adoption of written addresses today before
Justice Mohammed Umar, could not go on and was subsequently fixed for April 23
by the court.
Mamu, through his counsel, Johnson Usman, SAN, had, on Nov. 25, 2025, told
Justice Umar that the AGF’s action contravened Section 36(5) of the 1999
Constitution which presumes a defendant innocent until proven guilty by the court.
Usman told the court that the printout of publications in the media where his client
was designated as a terrorist had been attached to their application as exhibits.
The senior lawyer adopted the processes and urged the court to grant their reliefs
by enforcing Mamu’s fundamental rights.
NAN reports that while Mamu is the applicant in the fresh suit, marked:
FHC/ABJ/CS/713/2024, the AGF is the only respondent.
Usman said while the Federal Government arraigned the applicant/defendant on
alleged terrorism offences, it was wrong for it to go ahead and designate him as
terrorist in the case.
According to him, we have written to AGF to revert the illegal designation of
defendant as a terrorist but they refused.
He stated that the counter affidavit filed by the Federal Government against the suit
showed an admission of the allegation.
Usman argued that it was legally, morally and religiously wrong to designate
Mamu as a terrorist, having not been convicted by the court where he is facing
trial.
“It is the court that has the power to designate him as a terrorist after he must have
been convicted and sentenced by court.
“It is only my lord that has the power and duty and not the respondent in this
instant case.
“Having done that, the applicant is entitled to damages and to teach them a lesson
that you cannot designate a person a terrorist who is undergoing a trial,” he said.
However, AGF’s lawyer, David Kaswe, vehemently opposed Usman’s submission.
The judge consequently adjourned the matter until Feb. 23, 2026 for adoption of
final written addresses of parties in respect to provisions of Section 49 of the Act
and Section 36 of the constitution.
