A Department of State Services (DSS) investigator, on Thursday, told the Federal High Court in Abuja that many of the rescued victims of the 2022 Abuja-Kaduna train attack lodged complaints against the alleged terrorist negotiator, Tukur Mamu.
The DSS operative, who testified as the 6th prosecution witness (PW-6) in the ongoing terrorism trial of Mamu, made the disclosure to Justice Mohammed Umar during cross-examination by defence counsel, Johnson Usman, SAN.
The lawyer had asked the witness, who gave his testimony behind a witness screen for security reasons, “to confirm to the court if any of the rescue victims, including the wife of the Commandant in Jaji, made any complaint against the defendant to the DSS.”
Responding, the witness said: “Yes, my lord.”
When Usman further asked the witness whether the complaint by the rescued victims was in writing or oral, the witness said it was in writing.
The DSS lawyer, David Kaswe, however, prayed the court to restrain Usman from delving into questions that might touch on the identity of victims or witnesses in the case, since the court had granted protection to all.
Responding, Usman told the court that none of the names he had called were witnesses before the court.
“Even though my lord had granted an order for trial in camera, a trial in camera is not to prejudice the defendant,” he said.
The witness said he interviewed six victims during the investigation.
When asked whether the six victims were interviewed in the presence of Mamu, the PW-6 responded negatively.
The witness told the court that he was not a vocologist, having not studied sound in a higher institution.
He, however, confirmed that the audio exhibit tendered by the prosecution was an extract of the transcribed audio between Mamu and the terrorists.
When asked whether he had interviewed a former Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor (retd.), he said the army chief had not been interviewed.
The witness, however, admitted that General Abdulkadir Abubakar was interviewed during the investigation.
“When you interviewed him, was it in the presence of the defendant?” the lawyer asked, and he said: “No, my lord.”
“Did you interview Sheikh Gumi?” Usman asked, and the witness responded affirmatively.
“Was it in the presence of the defendant?” Usman asked.
“No, my lord,” the witness responded.
“Did you interview Major General Idris Garba?”
“No, my lord,” the PW-6 said.
