Umar-Tureta, who served as a Special Assistant to Tambuwal, was charged with distributing false and defamatory material
Sokoto, Nigeria – A former aide to ex-Governor Aminu Tambuwal, Shafi’u Umar-Tureta, has been remanded in custody by a Chief Magistrate Court for allegedly circulating defamatory content about Sokoto State Governor Ahmad Aliyu and his wife, Hajia Fatima Aliyu, on social media.
Umar-Tureta, who served as a Special Assistant to Tambuwal, was charged with distributing false and defamatory material. The Police Prosecutor, Abdurahman Mansur, stated that the alleged actions contravened the penal code law, with the case first being mentioned on August 26, 2024.
According to the First Information Report (FIR), the accused circulated a video showing Governor Aliyu’s wife spreading money on the ground during her birthday celebration, despite the economic hardships faced by citizens.
Umar-Tureta is also alleged to have circulated a document falsely claiming that Governor Aliyu had failed his Senior Secondary School Examination, obtaining an F9 grade, and was unable to speak English proficiently.
Umar-Tureta denied the charges. His lead counsel, Mr. Al’Mustafa Abubakar, made an oral application for bail, but the prosecution objected, and the magistrate reserved a ruling on the matter.
Abubakar also requested a definite hearing date, arguing that the prosecution should have concluded its investigation before the next court session.
In her ruling, Chief Magistrate Fatima Hassan noted that only the FIR was before the court and stated that a formal bail application needed to be submitted due to the nature of the allegations.
The case was adjourned until September 18, 2024, for a hearing, and Umar-Tureta was ordered to be remanded in Correctional Center custody pending further proceedings.
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