Tukur Mamu kicks against terrorism financing allegation, gives AGF seven days to retract claim

By Bisi LAWAL

The publisher of the Kaduna-based Desert Herald Newspaper, Tukur Mamu, has written to the Attorney General of the Federation to retract statements that profiled and labelled him as a financier of terrorism.

Mamu, through his counsel, J.J. Usman, SAN, sent a letter dated March 25, 2024, to the Attorney General, giving a seven-day ultimatum to retract the statements to avoid legal action.

Recall that the Federal Government earlier named 15 entities said to be involved in terrorism financing, including nine individuals and six Bureaux de Change operators and firms.

Mamu’s counsel pointed out that the Nigerian Sanctions Committee does not have the legal authority to label Tukur Mohammed Mamu as a terrorist financier, especially since he has been detained since 2022.

The letter reads: “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 have designated Our Client as such. It is a common knowledge that the administration of 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 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.

“We have no doubt about 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.

“On the basis of 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 this 25th 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.”