Alleged Defamatory Video Against Gov, Wife: Court  Grants  Tambuwal’s Aide Bail

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

Shafiu Umar Tureta, the detained Special Assistant to the immediate past Governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal, was on Wednesday, September 18, 2024, finally granted bail in his ongoing trial for alleged libel and defamation of character.

A Sokoto Chief Magistrate Court granted him bail to the tune of N1 million with a surety in like sum.

The Magistrate Her Worship Fatima Hassan, ruled that the surety must be a resident of Sokoto town, should also deposit his National Identity Card,vtogether with two copies of his recent passport photograph with the Court.

The Source reports that Tureta, a Peoples Democratic Party PDP stalwart, was on August 26, arraigned before the Court on charges bordering on circulation of falsehood and defamation of character.

Before his arraignment, he was arrested and detained by the Sokoto State Police Command for allegedly masterminding the circulation of video showing how guests were spraying the wife of the State Governor, Hajia Fati Ahmed Aliyu, currencies of different hues at her birthday party.

Similarly, Tureta alongside, some PDP members were also alleged to have spearheaded the circulation of yet another video in which Governor Aliyu was captured having difficulties communicating in English Language at a public function.  The video also allegedly depicted the very poor WAEC result, allegedly, of the Governor.

According to the First Information Report FIR, the prosecution counsel Inspector, Abdulraham Mansur, contended that the offence is punishable under the penal code laws.

Mansur further noted that the defendant committed the said offence ,on July 18,2024

However ,Tureta pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Before adjourning the matter to October 10, 2024, the Magistrate ordered that the defendant be kept in custody until the perfection of the bail conditions