The Federal High Court in Abuja has approved the Federal Government’s request to protect the identities of witnesses in the case against Tukur Mamu, an alleged collaborator of the notorious Boko Haram group. The trial is centered on the harrowing terror attack that occurred on a Kaduna-Abuja train in the preceding year, claiming the lives of at least eight individuals and resulting in numerous abductions for ransom.
Facing ten charges, including terrorism financing, Mamu, a prominent cleric and publisher based in Kaduna, is accused of receiving a hefty ransom of $120,000 on behalf of the Boko Haram terrorists from the families of hostages involved in the train attack.
Furthermore, he is alleged to have engaged in voice-note communications with a Boko Haram spokesperson and to have been found in possession of terrorist funds amounting to $300,000. Despite these serious accusations, Mamu maintains his plea of not guilty.
During the court proceedings, the Attorney General of the Federation sought strict measures to shield the identities of prosecution witnesses, including the use of facial masks and screens while testifying. The government also called for pseudonyms to be used for the witnesses and a restricted audience, limited to parties, their legal representatives, and accredited press members. With these protective measures in place, the trial sets off, shrouded in secrecy and heightened security.