ex-Governor Tambuwal’s aide denied bail, sent to prison over alleged defamation

Shafi’u Umar Tureta, Special Assistant to former Sokoto governor, Aminu Tambuwal, has been sent to prison for allegedly defaming Sokoto State governor, Ahmad Aliyu, and his wife, Hajiya Fatima Ahmed Aliyu, through social media platform.

Tureta was charged with circulating injurious falsehood and engraving matter known to be defamatory, reports Channels TV.

A Chief Magistrates Court in Sokoto today remanded Tureta in a corrections centre for allegedly circulating falsehoods against Governor Aliyu.

The case was first mentioned on August 26, and the police prosecutor, Insp Abdurahman Mansur, said the offence contravened the penal code law.

According to the First Information Report (FIR), the accused person committed the offence on July 18, 2024.

The accused had denied the allegations, while the lead Defense Counsel, Mr Al’Mustafa Abubakar, made an oral application for his bail which was objected by the Prosecution and Magistrate reserved for ruling.

In her ruling, Chief Magistrate Fatima Hassan, said the only document before her was the FIR and in recognition of the nature of the offences, the Defence Counsel needed to file a formal application for the accused person’s bail.

Hassan adjourned the case to Sept. 18, for hearing and ordered the accused to be remanded in Correctional Centre custody.