An investigator with the Department of State Services (DSS) has told the Federal High Court in Abuja that complaints made by victims against alleged terrorism negotiator, Tukur Mamu, corroborated the findings by the agency.
The sixth prosecution witness in the ongoing terrorism trial of Mamu said several victims rescued from the 2022 Abuja–Kaduna bound train attack lodged complaints with the DSS.
The witness, a DSS operative, made the disclosure while being cross-examined by defence counsel, Johnson Usman, SAN, before Justice Mohammed Umar.
Usman had asked the witness, who testified behind a protective screen for security reasons, to confirm whether any of the rescued victims, including the wife of the Commandant of the Nigerian Defence Academy, Jaji, made complaints against the defendant.
The witness answered in the affirmative.
When further asked whether the complaints were made orally or in writing, the witness stated that they were submitted in writing.
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However, counsel to the DSS, David Kaswe, urged the court to restrain the defence from asking questions that could reveal the identities of victims or witnesses, noting that the court had granted protection to all witnesses.
In response, Usman told the court that none of the names he mentioned was listed as a witness before the court.
The witness told the court that he interviewed six victims during the course of the investigation. He added that the interviews were not conducted in the presence of Mamu.
Under further questioning, the witness stated that he was not a vocologist, explaining that he had not studied sound analysis at any higher institution.
He, however, confirmed that the audio exhibit tendered by the prosecution was an extract from a transcribed audio recording of conversations between Mamu and the terrorists.
When asked whether he interviewed a former Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor, the witness answered in the negative.
He, however, confirmed that General Abdulkadir Abubakar was interviewed during the investigation, though not in the presence of the defendant.
The witness also said he interviewed Sheikh Ahmad Gumi and General Jalingo, both outside Mamu’s presence, but did not interview Major-General Idris Garba.
Responding to another question, the witness said he did not interview Hannafi of the Defence Military Intelligence.
Usman further asked the witness to confirm whether members of the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Committee were brought for an interview in the presence of the defendant at any point during the investigation. The witness responded in the negative.
When asked whether he was aware that the defendant had requested a face-to-face interrogation with members of the CDS Committee, the witness said he was aware of the request.
Usman then asked whether the request was granted. The witness replied, “No, my lord.”
The witness also confirmed that Mamu told investigators he was a publisher of a newspaper and magazine, and that his income was derived from journalism.
When asked whether this claim was investigated, the witness answered in the affirmative.
Following the conclusion of cross-examination, Kaswe informed the court that the prosecution intended to close its case.
However, Usman told the court that the defence would rather apply for a date to open its case, stating that they would not file a no-case submission “so that the world can see it and God can see it all.”
Justice Umar subsequently adjourned the matter to April 23 for the defendant to open his defence.
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