Mamu was arrested on September 6, 2022, in Cairo, Egypt.
A Federal High Court in Abuja has warned the Nigerian Government that it could take action in the charge filed against former terrorist negotiator, Tukur Mamu.
Justice Inyang Ekwo gave the warning on Monday following the disappearance of the counsel for the government, David Kaswe, in court before the resumed hearing of the case.
Mr Mamu was arraigned, on March 21, 2023, on 10 counts of terrorism financing, among others, but pleaded not guilty to the counts.
Justice Ekwo, on April 27, 2023, declined to admit him to bail on the grounds of ill-health after the Department of State Services (DSS) opposed the bail application.
However, the judge, on December 19, 2023, granted Mamu’s plea to have access to his physician due to his alleged deteriorating health condition.
Justice Ekwo, in the ruling, ordered that Mamu’s medical doctor should be allowed to treat him subject to the supervision of the DSS’ team of physicians.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria, when the case was called on Monday, the government lawyer, Kaswe, was not in court.
Mr Mamu’s counsel, Abdul Mohammed (SAN), urged the court to stand down the matter to await Kaswe’s return.
When the case was called again after the judge had delivered a judgment, the prosecution lawyer had still not arrived in court.
Mohammed said since Mr Mamu’s arraignment, he had not been admitted to bail, adding that the court had directed an accelerated trial of the case.
The lawyer lamented that despite being in court on Monday morning, Kaswe was not in court as of 10 am.
The lawyer then notified the court of their motion on notice which he said the prosecution had responded to.
Justice Ekwo granted his prayer to move the application.
Mr Mohammed said the motion, dated and filed on February 23, sought an order transferring Mamu to Kuje Correction Centre for proper medical attention.
He said the motion had a 24-paragraph affidavit and Exhibits A to G. According to him, the court, recognising the fact that the defendant must be alive to face trial, ordered that he should be granted access to medical officers of his.
Mr Mohammed alleged that the order had not been complied with.
“This application is brought so that we will take the defendant to the prisons because they always obey court order there, so that if we go there, he will have access to his medical officer.
“It is completely within the discretion of the court and we do not want to bring application for contempt as that will take time.
“Therefore, we want the court to vary the order and the defendant will stay in the Kuja Correctional Facility. That is what we are asking for,” he said.
The judge, who deemed the counter-affidavit of the prosecution filed on February 27 as being adopted in compliance with the rules of the court, said he was aware that the prosecution was informed of the hearing date by the court registrar.
Besides, he said he was also aware that Kaswe, who was to appear for the prosecution, was in court in the morning.
Justice Ekwo, however, expressed surprise at “the miraculous disappearance” of the government lawyer in court.
“I am also aware that the prosecution was in court this morning, but as to the miracle of the disappearance of the prosecution as at the time this matter comes up for hearing is beyond my understanding,” he said.
According to him, the prosecution understands that this is a court that stands on the side of justice and if you bring a person to stand trial, you should be bold enough to face the person during trial.
“This antic of the prosecution is only being tolerated in today’s proceeding. If the prosecution demonstrates that they are not ready to prosecute this matter either diligently or expeditiously, the court will make the right decision at that point,” the judge warned.
Justice Ekwo thereafter adjourned the matter till May 20 for a ruling on Mamu’s application to be transferred to Kuje Correctional Centre.
Mr Mamu was arrested on September 6, 2022, in Cairo, Egypt.
He is standing trial over his alleged links to terrorists involved in a deadly attack on an Abuja-Kaduna train on March 28, 2022.