Terror Negotiator's N50 Million Offer Exposed in Court
The Federal High Court in Abuja has heard shocking revelations about alleged terrorists' negotiator Tukur Mamu, who was reportedly offered N50 million as personal reward from ransom funds by the leader of a terrorist group. The stunning disclosure came from a Department of State Services official testifying as the sixth prosecution witness in Mamu's ongoing terrorism trial.
Audio Evidence Reveals Damning Conversations
According to the DSS witness, audio recordings extracted from Mamu's mobile devices captured detailed conversations between the defendant and key members of the terrorist organization. The court heard that one particularly damning audio clip featured the voice of a man identified as Shugaba, the leader of the terrorist group, who praised Mamu's efforts and instructed him to "remove N50 million" for his personal use from ransom money he was expected to deliver.
The DSS official explained that investigators identified multiple voices during their analysis, all obtained from Mamu's Samsung tablet and two mobile phones seized following his arrest at Cairo International Airport on September 7, 2022. Egyptian authorities had detained Mamu over suspicions of financing Boko Haram activities before repatriating him to Nigeria.
Wealth Recovery and Concealment Attempts
Prosecutors presented evidence showing Mamu's alleged attempts to conceal assets after his arrest. The witness testified that Mamu contacted his in-law, Mubarak Tinja, directing him to remove cash, vehicles, and other valuables from his residence to prevent security operatives from discovering them.
When investigators executed search warrants at Mamu's Kaduna home and office, they recovered substantial evidence including:
- Cash in both local and foreign currencies
- Approximately $300,000 traced to other locations
- Seven vehicles including Toyota Camry, Peugeot 5008, Lexus, Mercedes E350, and Hyundai models
The court admitted all vehicle documents as evidence, painting a picture of significant wealth accumulation allegedly linked to ransom negotiations.
Weapons and Terrorist Communications
Further damning evidence emerged when the witness revealed that a pump-action gun recovered from Mamu's home was claimed to be licensed, but investigators discovered the license had expired in December 2021 - nine months before his arrest.
The audio analysis revealed approximately 98% of the extracted recordings were in Hausa language, requiring translation due to the volume of material. Among the six recordings played in court, one featured terrorist spokesman Baba Adamu allegedly asking Mamu to help procure a public-address system for their preaching activities and seeking assistance in creating a website.
Victim Testimonies and Legal Proceedings
The prosecution disclosed that two victims of the March 2022 Abuja-Kaduna train attack had provided written statements detailing their ordeals, though they were unwilling to testify in court due to fear and trauma. Their statements - one in English and the other in Hausa (translated into English) - were admitted into evidence.
Additionally, eight statements made by Mamu to investigators and video recordings of his interview sessions were also admitted as evidence. Prosecuting counsel David Kaswe informed the court of plans to file a formal application requesting a judicial visit to storage facilities where recovered items are kept.
In a separate legal development, Mamu has instituted a fundamental rights suit against the Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), challenging his designation as a "terrorist" in media reports. He argues this violates the constitutional presumption of innocence since his trial remains ongoing.
Justice Mohammed Umar has adjourned the case until February 23, 2026, for the adoption of final written addresses relating to Section 49 of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act and Section 36 of the Nigerian Constitution.
