The publisher of the Kaduna-based Desert Herald Newspaper, Tukur Mamu, has taken legal action against the Attorney General of the Federation, requesting a retraction after being labeled a terrorist financier. Mamu's lawyer, J.J. Usman (SAN), sent a letter dated March 25, 2024, to the AGF on his behalf, demanding the retraction.
The Federal Government recently identified 15 entities, including nine individuals and six Bureau De Change operators and firms, allegedly involved in terrorism financing. The Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit disclosed this information in an email titled "Designation of Individuals and Entities for March 18, 2024," which was received by The PUNCH.
Mamu's lawyer argued that the Nigerian Sanctions Committee did not have the legal authority to designate Mamu as a terrorist financier, especially since he is currently in detention and undergoing trial on terrorism-related charges. The letter issued a seven-day ultimatum for the retraction to prevent further legal action.
The lawyer also criticized the AGF's office for allegedly authorizing a publication on social media profiling Mamu as a terrorist financier while his case is still pending in court. He emphasized that no court in Nigeria has designated Mamu as such, and demanded an immediate retraction of the publication within seven days to avoid legal repercussions.
