A DSS operative testified at the Federal High Court Abuja that Tukur Mamu allegedly kept ₦50m from ransom payments connected to the 2022 Kaduna-train attack. Voice notes and seized devices were tendered as evidence against Tukur Mamu.
Tukur Mamu, accused of aiding terrorists in the 2022 Abuja–Kaduna train attack, returned to the spotlight after a Department of State Services (DSS) investigator testified that the defendant allegedly received ₦50 million as a personal share from ransom payments. The testimony emerged during proceedings at the Federal High Court, Abuja, where evidence was presented against the Kaduna-based publisher.
The DSS operative, serving as the sixth prosecution witness, spoke behind a protective screen for security reasons and told Justice Mohammed Umar that forensic analysis of Tukur Mamu ’s seized devices revealed audio exchanges between the defendant and terrorist leaders. The agency’s institutional details and mandate can be found via its official portal at https://dss.gov.ng.
Court documents and digital files tendered in evidence included the Tukur Mamu case included voice notes where “Shugaba,” leader of the terror group that carried out the attack, thanked Tukur Mamu and explicitly instructed him to “take ₦50 million” from a ransom delivered by the victims’ families. The Federal High Court, which is overseeing the matter, maintains its judicial information and administrative resources at https://www.fhc.gov.ng.
Another audio clip played in court reportedly featured “Baba Adamu,” the group’s spokesperson, requesting Mamu’s assistance in securing speakers and a public-address system for their operations. The DSS witness stated that Tukur Mamu agreed to consider the request, further raising questions about the nature and depth of his interactions with the perpetrators.
The prosecution also asserted that Mamu bypassed the official committee established by the Chief of Defence Staff to coordinate negotiations, instead encouraging terrorists to open direct ransom discussions with hostage families. The witness maintained that Mamu had no government authorization to negotiate on behalf of the state or any security organ.
According to evidence presented, security agents retrieved multiple devices, foreign currency, local cash, and vehicles from Mamu’s residence and office in Kaduna. The DSS investigator told the court that the discoveries were backed by a lawfully obtained search warrant and that the items provided further context to the defendant’s alleged involvement in the ransom-handling network.
Justice Umar admitted the electronic files, digital storage devices, witness statements, and interrogation videos as exhibits, while Mamu’s legal team reserved objections for their final written address. The case has been adjourned for continuation, with the prosecution expected to tender additional exhibits at the next hearing.
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