Court Schedules July 22 Hearing for Tukur Mamu’s Bail Plea in Terrorism Case

 A Federal High Court in Abuja, on June 30, 2025, scheduled July 22 for hearing the bail application of Tukur Mamu, publisher of Desert Herald, charged with terrorism financing and aiding Boko Haram. 

Mamu, arrested in September 2022, faces a 10-count charge, including facilitating ransom payments for the 2022 Abuja-Kaduna train attack, which killed eight and abducted 168 passengers. The Department of State Services (DSS) alleges Mamu handled N2 billion in illicit funds, though his counsel, Abdul Mohammed, claims the charges are politically motivated, citing Mamu’s role as a negotiator.

The bail plea, delayed by security concerns, follows Mamu’s detention for 33 months, raising human rights concerns from Amnesty International. The court, presided over by Justice Inyang Ekwo, will review evidence, including intercepted communications, with 70% of documents classified. 

The case, costing N500 million in legal fees, has drawn attention due to Mamu’s 2019 exposé on northern insecurity, impacting 10 million readers. If convicted, Mamu faces life imprisonment, but a bail grant could allow home detention pending trial in 2026. The hearing coincides with Nigeria’s broader anti-terrorism efforts, neutralizing 300 insurgents in 2024.