- The prosecution, representing the Federal Government, requested the court to enforce the order to exclude non-parties from the trial
- Tukur Mamu is accused of aiding and abetting Boko Haram terrorism and collecting money on behalf of the terrorists from families of attack victims
Lawyers, litigants, including journalists, were on Friday, ordered to vacate Courtroom 7 of a Federal High Court, Abuja where the trial of ex-terrorist negotiator, Tukur Mamu, was holding.
When the matter was called, counsel from the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation, E.A Kaswe, who is prosecuting the case on Federal Government’s behalf, told the court that their witnesses were in court for the trial.
Kaswe then urged Justice Inyang Ekwo to enforce the order granted to the prosecution on Wednesday when the matter came up.
“May I humbly ask the court to enforce the order granted for all parties not party to the suit to vacate the court,” he prayed.
Justice Ekwo, who granted the prayer, ordered everyone to vacate the court, except parties in the suit.
The development was, however, contrary to the application by the prosecution that accredited journalists at the FHC should be allowed to observe proceedings in the trial.
Mamu was arrested on September 6, 2022, on his way to Saudi Arabia for Lesser Hajj and was detained at Cairo International Airport before being repatriated to Nigeria.
In the charges, the Federal Government accused Mamu of aiding and abetting Boko Haram terrorism attacks against innocent Nigerians.
He was accused of collecting various sums of money in various currencies on behalf of Boko Haram terrorists from the families of the train attack.