Mamu demands a retraction and denies financing terrorism allegations.
Comment
Tukur Mamu, the publisher of the Desert Herald Newspaper in Kaduna, has written to the Attorney General of the Federation, requesting a retraction for labeling and identifying him as a financier of terrorism.
This was stated in a letter dated March 25, 2024, which our correspondent in Kaduna saw on Tuesday. The letter was written on his behalf by his attorney, J.J. Usman (SAN), and addressed to the AGF. The AGF acknowledged receipt of the copy.
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Nonetheless, Mamu’s legal representative pointed out that the “Nigerian Sanctions Committee lacks the statutory mandate to pronounce on, and to designate Mr. Tukur Mohammed Mamu as a terrorist financier.” Mamu has been detained since 2022.
As a result, the letter claims that to avoid legal action, Mamu was given a seven-day ultimatum to retract his designation as a terrorist financier.
The attorney mentioned that his client is presently facing charges related to terrorism by the AGF’s office.
He said it was “lamentable that while the case was still pending in court, the social media was saturated by a publication allegedly emanating from and authorized by your good office.”
According to the letter, “However, the said publication was specifically made by the ‘Nigerian Sanctions Committee’ wherein our client was profiled and designated as a terrorist financier.
“As at the time of this missive, no court of competent jurisdiction in Nigeria has designated our client as such.
“It is a 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 same 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
“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.
“Based on the aforesaid, we demand in very clear and unequivocal terms, the immediate retraction of the said publication within seven 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.”
