Highlights
- Nigerian Police share details of the tracking and arrest of Aminu Adamu, an Undergraduate student, who allegedly defamed Aisha Buhari.
- Aminu has been prosecuted and remanded in prison as court denies him bail.
- Prominent Nigerians have withdrawn their support for the undergraduate after his old tweet supported the lynching of Deborah Emmanuel.
How Aminu Adamu was Tracked and Arrested for Defaming Aisha Buhari
The Nigerian police have shared the details of their tracking and arrest of Aminu Adamu, the 500-level undergraduate student of Federal University, Dutse, Jigawa State, who allegedly defamed Nigeria's first lady, Aisha Buhari on Twitter.
Aminu was apprehended two weeks ago from his school by the police presumed to be men of the Department of States Security (DSS), over a tweet he shared in June, according to the initial social media reports. However, a court file and information from the police have given full details of his arrest and prosecution.
The police detective attached to the 'Anti Vice Section A' in Mararaba, Nasarawa State, Festus Josiah, has communicated how the unit tracked and arrested Aminu. Detective Josiah in a statement dated Saturday, November 19, 2022, disclosed that his attention was called to Adamu's tweet through a phone call by Aide De Camp (ADC) to Aisha Buhari, Usman Shugaba.
The police team traveled to Jigawa State Capital, Dutse, where they began tracking down Adamu for three days, in collaboration with the office of the first lady. The police detectives on reaching Adamu were able to see the alleged tweet on his Twitter account.
"When we got his phone, an iPhone 7, we saw the Twitter account on the phone. we also saw the (alleged offending) post," Josiah stated.
The student was arrested and taken to the FCT State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) while his phone was sent to the Terrorism Investigation Branch, Force Intelligence Bureau in Abuja.
Vanguard reports that the first lady, Aisha Buhari, and five others are among those to stand as witnesses by the prosecution to testify against Adamu in the court during his trial. The one-count charge against the student marked: CR/89/2022 and dated November 23, reads,
"That you Aminu Adamu, male of Anguwar Sarakuna, Bauchi, Bauchi State sometimes between May-June 2022 within the jurisdiction of this honorable court did intentionally open a Twitter Handle with the name @aminullahie Catalyst and screenshot the image of Her Excellency Hajia Aisha Buhari.
"And wrote it in Hausa language 'Su mama anchi kudi talakawa ankoshi', roughly translated to the English language to mean 'mama has embezzled monies meant for the poor to satisfaction' and posted same on your above Twitter handle for the members of the public to read, knowing same to be false and capable of affecting her reputation. You thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 391 of the penal code".
Aminu was apprehended two weeks ago from his school by the police presumed to be men of the Department of States Security (DSS), over a tweet he shared in June, according to the initial social media reports. However, a court file and information from the police have given full details of his arrest and prosecution.
The police detective attached to the 'Anti Vice Section A' in Mararaba, Nasarawa State, Festus Josiah, has communicated how the unit tracked and arrested Aminu. Detective Josiah in a statement dated Saturday, November 19, 2022, disclosed that his attention was called to Adamu's tweet through a phone call by Aide De Camp (ADC) to Aisha Buhari, Usman Shugaba.
The police team traveled to Jigawa State Capital, Dutse, where they began tracking down Adamu for three days, in collaboration with the office of the first lady. The police detectives on reaching Adamu were able to see the alleged tweet on his Twitter account.
"When we got his phone, an iPhone 7, we saw the Twitter account on the phone. we also saw the (alleged offending) post," Josiah stated.
The student was arrested and taken to the FCT State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) while his phone was sent to the Terrorism Investigation Branch, Force Intelligence Bureau in Abuja.
Details of the Prosecution of the Aminu over Alleged Defamation of the First Lady
Aminu has been charged to court with an offense bordering on defamation and cyberstalking which according to the prosecution council contravened Section 391 of the Penal Code. He was arraigned at FCT High Court No. 14 in Abuja on Tuesday.Vanguard reports that the first lady, Aisha Buhari, and five others are among those to stand as witnesses by the prosecution to testify against Adamu in the court during his trial. The one-count charge against the student marked: CR/89/2022 and dated November 23, reads,
"That you Aminu Adamu, male of Anguwar Sarakuna, Bauchi, Bauchi State sometimes between May-June 2022 within the jurisdiction of this honorable court did intentionally open a Twitter Handle with the name @aminullahie Catalyst and screenshot the image of Her Excellency Hajia Aisha Buhari.
"And wrote it in Hausa language 'Su mama anchi kudi talakawa ankoshi', roughly translated to the English language to mean 'mama has embezzled monies meant for the poor to satisfaction' and posted same on your above Twitter handle for the members of the public to read, knowing same to be false and capable of affecting her reputation. You thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 391 of the penal code".
The defendant has pleaded not guilty to the charge against him. Meanwhile, the court has denied his bail appeal according to his lawyer, C. K. Agu. He has been remanded in the Suleja correctional facility in Niger State where he is awaiting a further trial.
Nigerians Withdraw Support for Aminu After His Old Tweet Supported the Killing of Deborah Emmanuel
Some prominent Nigerians and civil rights activists have withdrawn their support for the undergraduate student, Adamu after details of his other tweets emerged.In one of his tweets, he threatened to harm anyone who would wear a polo with an inscription condemning the killing of Deborah Emmanuel.
The tweet which was posted in Hausa language reads, "Duk Wanda yasa wannan rigar ah Bauchi sai munchi uwarsa", roughly translated in English as "Whosoever wears this shirt in Bauchi will be dealt with severely."
The tweet which was posted in Hausa language reads, "Duk Wanda yasa wannan rigar ah Bauchi sai munchi uwarsa", roughly translated in English as "Whosoever wears this shirt in Bauchi will be dealt with severely."
The popular Nigerian human right lawyer, David Hundeyin, who initially condemned the arrest of Adamu took to his Twitter handle to apologize to the first lady.
"I earnestly apologize for retweeting the appeal to free this fellow. May he remain inside that cell for as long as Deborah's family is denied justice, plus some extra time for accrued interest. Allah ya kara masa nauyin kasa," Hundeyin tweeted.
Other Twitter users have also supported his arrest after his radical tweets emerged.
Deborah Emmanuel, a Christian girl, was mobbed and lynched in Northern Nigeria for alleged blasphemy. Most people in the North, dominated by Muslims supported the murder of Deborah, but until this day, no one has been prosecuted for the killing.
Adamu Aminu, who defamed the first lady, happened to be one of those who supported the killing of Deborah and other public lynchings in the region.
Other Twitter users have also supported his arrest after his radical tweets emerged.
Deborah Emmanuel, a Christian girl, was mobbed and lynched in Northern Nigeria for alleged blasphemy. Most people in the North, dominated by Muslims supported the murder of Deborah, but until this day, no one has been prosecuted for the killing.
Adamu Aminu, who defamed the first lady, happened to be one of those who supported the killing of Deborah and other public lynchings in the region.
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