A Chief Magistrate Court has ordered the remand of Shafi’u Umar-Tureta, a former Special Assistant to ex-Governor Aminu Tambuwal, in correctional custody for allegedly spreading false information about Governor Ahmad Aliyu and his wife on social media.
Umar-Tureta faces charges of circulating defamatory content and injurious falsehood, with the Police Prosecutor, Inspector Abdurahman Mansur, stating that the offences violated the Penal Code. The case, first mentioned on August 26, 2024, revealed that the alleged crimes occurred on July 18, 2024.
According to the First Information Report (FIR), Umar-Tureta shared a video of Governor Aliyu’s wife, Hajia Fatima Aliyu, throwing money during her birthday celebration, which reportedly sparked public outrage amid the ongoing economic hardships in the state. Additionally, he is accused of circulating a document alleging that Governor Aliyu failed his Senior Secondary School Examination and is incapable of speaking English.
The accused denied the charges, while his lead counsel, Mr. Al’Mustafa Abubakar, applied for bail. However, the prosecution opposed the request, leading the magistrate to reserve her ruling on the matter.
Abubakar also pressed for a swift hearing, criticizing the prosecution for delaying the case under the pretext of an ongoing investigation, which he argued should have been concluded before the court session.
In her ruling, Chief Magistrate Fatima Hassan stated that the defence would need to file a formal bail application and adjourned the case to September 18, 2024, for a hearing. She also ordered that Umar-Tureta be remanded in correctional custody.
