Tukur Mamu, the publisher of Kaduna-based Desert Herald Newspaper, is demanding a retraction from the Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, for profiling him as a terrorist financier.
This was contained in a letter dated March 25, 2024, written on his behalf by his lawyer, J.J. Usman (SAN), addressed to the AGF.
Recall that the Federal Government unveiled the identity of 15 entities, including nine individuals and six Bureau De Change operators and firms, allegedly involved in terrorism financing.
Details of the development were revealed by the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit in an email sent to The PUNCH entitled “Designation of Individuals and Entities for March 18, 2024.”
However, counsel for Mamu, who has been in detention since 2022, noted that the “Nigerian Sanctions Committee lacks the statutory mandate to pronounce on, and to designate Mr. Tukur Mohammed Mamu as a terrorist financier.”
Consequently, according to the letter, a seven-day ultimatum was handed down for the retraction of Mamu as a terrorist financier to prevent litigation.
The lawyer noted that the office of the AGF is currently prosecuting his client on allegations concerning terrorism.
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 authorised by your good office.”
The letter partly read, “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.”
