The publisher of Desert Herald newspaper, Tukur Mamu has told the Nigerian government to retract its profiling of him to be engaged in terrorism financing or face litigation.
ASHENEWS earlier reported HERE that the Nigerian government through the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) had named Mamu among 15 others as a financier of terrorism in Nigeria.
The NFIU said Mamu “Participated in the financing of terrorism by receiving and delivering ransom payments, over the sum of $200,000, in support of ISWAP terrorists for the release of hostages of the Abuja-Kaduna train attack”.
However, Mamu in a letter dated March 25, 2024, written on his behalf by his lawyer, J.J. Usman (SAN), addressed to the Attorney General of the Federation gave a seven-day ultimatum demanding a retraction of his profiling and designation as a “Terrorism financier”.
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“We are Counsel to MR. TUKUR MOHAMMED MAMU (hereinafter referred to as Our Client) on whose firm and absolute instruction we relate with you on the above subject matter. Kaduna
“Recall that Our Client was arraigned by the Federal Government of Nigeria, particularly before the Federal High Court, Abuja Division in CHARGE NO: FHC/ABJ/CR/96/2023 between THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA V, TUKUR MOHAMMED MAMU.
“In furtherance to this, it is remarkable to note that your office is currently prosecuting Our Client on allegations concerning terrorism,
“Attached herewith is a certified true copy of the said Charge marked as ANNEXURE “A” for ease of reference.
“It is lamentable to observe that on 19/03/2024: while the case against Our Client is still pending, the social media was saturated by a publication allegedly emanating from and authorized by your good office.
“However, the said publication was specifically made by the “Nigerian Sanctions Committee” wherein Our Client was profiled and designated as a “Terrorist (TERRORIST FINANCIER)”.
“As at the time of this missive, no Court of competent jurisdiction in Nigeria has designated Our Client as such.
“Attached herewith is a copy of the publication downloaded from the online marked as ANNEXURE “B” for ease of reference.
“It is common knowledge that the administration of the criminal justice system in Nigeria is not only antithetic to, but forbids media trial in whatever guise.
“We vehemently condemn the actions of the Nigerian Sanctions Committee being a violation of the rule of natural justice and prejudicial to Our Client who is undergoing trial, and whose trial is still pending in SUIT FHCIABJ/CR/96/2023.
“It is sardonic and very disheartening that this publication is coming from the Nigerian Sanctions Committee; which ordinarily should be fueling the front burner in championing the course for the sustenance of the Rule of Law in Nigeria. Albeit, the Nigerian Sanctions Committee lacks the statutory mandate to pronounce on, and to designate Mr. Tukur Mohammed Mamu as a Terrorist Financier; even when it is a notorious fact that Mr. Tukur Mohammed Mamu is undergoing trial. It is so, particularly that the court has not made any pronouncement detailing him to be one.
“It is our firm position that the action of the Nigerian Sanctions Committee is not just tantamount to the usurpation of the Court’s power provided under Section 6 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended); but is a mockery of the Nigerian judicial system.
“We do not doubt the deliberate ploy to soil the name and the hard-earned reputation of Our Client in whose favour the constitutional right to the presumption of innocence inures.
“By the publication above referred, it becomes crystal clear that the Federal Government of Nigeria is the Complainant against Our Client; the prosecutor of our Client and now putting itself in a head-on collision with the judicial power of the court by assuming adjudicatory position thereon. Adjusting Our Client as a Terrorist has eroded all the jurisprudential tenets of the rules of natural justice.
“Based on the aforesaid, we demand in very clear and unequivocal terms: the immediate Retraction of the said Publication within 7 days from the receipt of this letter dated 25h March 2024.
“Failure to comply with Our Client’s demand. we will have no hesitation in seeking redress in the Court of law for the ventilation of Our Client’s grievances,” the letter reads.
The letter written on the issue of terrorism financing is also copied to the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit.
