Sokoto: Former aide to Tambuwal remanded for allegedly defaming Gov Aliyu, wife

A Chief Magistrates’ Court in Sokoto has ordered the remand of Shafi’u Umar, 37, a former special assistant to ex-Governor Aminu Tambuwal, for allegedly spreading defamatory information about Governor Ahmad Aliyu and his wife on social media.

The ruling was made on Friday.

Mr. Umar is facing charges of distributing harmful falsehoods and defamation. According to the First Information Report (FIR), the offence occurred on July 18. The prosecution claims that Mr. Umar circulated a video of the governor’s wife, Fatima Aliyu, purportedly “spraying” money during her birthday celebrations, despite the difficult economic conditions in the country.

Additionally, Mr. Umar is accused of sharing a document alleging that Governor Aliyu failed his Senior Secondary School Examination, scoring an F9, and suggesting that he is incapable of speaking English.

The case, initially mentioned on August 26, is being prosecuted by Inspector Abdurahman Mansur, who stated that the actions of the defendant violated the penal code.

Mr. Umar pleaded not guilty to the charges, and his lawyer, Almustafa Abubakar, submitted a bail request, which the prosecution opposed.

Chief Magistrate Fati Hassan adjourned the case to September 18 for further hearings and instructed the defence counsel to file a formal bail application.

Until then, Mr. Umar remains in a corrections facility.