Court orders SSS, AGF to arraign Tukur Mamu
Derailment: NRC suspects vandalism as repair work on Warri-Itakpe train tracks begins
AKaduna High Court sitting in Kaduna yesterday directed the State Security Service (SSS) and the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) to immediately arraign and charge the publisher of Desert Heart Newspaper, Tukur Mamu and five others before a court of competent jurisdiction for any offences as disclosed from their investigation.
The ruling, which came four months after his arrest was contained in a certified true copy with suit number KMD/KAD/1442/20222 made available to journalists in Kaduna.
The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) engineers have commenced the repair of the damaged portion of the WarriItakpe Train Service which derailed on Sunday.
The corporation is suspecting vandalism of the tracks as the cause of the derailment as investigation into the incident has commenced.
Daily Trust reports that the train had derailed in the forest of Kogi leaving the passengers stranded.
However, 148 passengers
The applicants were Tukur Mamu, Faizal Tukur Mamu, Ibrahim Hussain Tinja, Abdullahi Mashi, Mubarak Hussain Tinja and Yahaya Bello, while the respondents included the State Security Service (SSS) and Attorney General of the Federation respectively.
In his ruling, Justice E. Andow said, “This is a motion on notice dated 15/12/2022 wherein the applicants prayed this court as follows: An order enforcing the applicants fundamental human rights as guaranteed, enshrined and protected by section 34, 35, 36 & 41 of the constitution of the Federal Republic 1999, order 2 of fundamental human rights (enforcement procedure) rules 2009 and Articles 3, and 30 crew members were evacuated unhurt.
Speaking with Daily Trust yesterday, the coordinator of WarriItakpe Train Service, Engr. Sanni Abdulganiyu said vandalism was being suspected as the cause of the strike but said investigation was ongoing to ascertain the immediate and remote cause of the incident.
He, however, said the repair works, which had commenced, would end within a week.
“The truth of the matter is it was suspected that the track was tampered with but investigation is 5 & 6 of African charter on Human and people’s right for same being breached or likely to the breached by the Respondent, their agents privies and assigns.
“An order of this honourable court directing the respondents to immediately arraign and change the applicants before a court of competent jurisdiction for any offence (s) as disclosed from their investigation (if any).
“Alternatively, an order directing the respondents to admit the applicants on bail pending the conclusion of their investigation and for such further or other orders as this honourable court may deem fit to make in the circumference of this case.”
Learned counsel of the still on. I cannot preempt what will come out of the investigation.
“We have commenced the repair work and we are hoping that it will be done in a week.”
Daily Trust reports that the NRC has consistently expressed concerns over persistent vandalism of railway infrastructures.
The Lagos-Ibadan Train Service has also recorded several cases of vandalism, which has stalled train movements on several occasions.
A source in NRC told our correspondent that the vandalism of railway applicant, Barrister M. S. Katu (SAN) said section 34 of the 1999 constitution stipulated that any person arrested on reasonable suspicion of the commission of a criminal offence should be charged before a court of competent jurisdiction within a reasonable time, “I therefore hold the view that the applicant deserved to be charged to court with immediate effect, if the respondents have anything against him.”
Mamu was arrested by security operatives in Cairo, Egypt sometime in September, 2022 for his alleged involvement in collecting ransom and taking the same to terrorists in exchange for kidnapped victims. infrastructure is on the increase.
“Our tracks are being tampered with. We have instances where bolts and knots were removed and, in some places, a whole track was removed. It takes the expertise of our staff to detect this problem and they would slow down to prevent the train from derailing,” the source said.
The NRC Managing Director, Engr. Fidet Okhiria had said the corporation would install sensors on some on the tracks across the railway corridors to guide against vandalism.