The Chief Magistrate court 1 Sokoto, Fatima Hassan has on Monday remanded Shafi’u Umar Tureta Special Assistant to Sen. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal on Media in custody to 6th September 2024 when the court will rule on his bail application.
Tureta was arraigned by the police on Monday before chief Magistrate court 1 on three count charge bordering on false information and invading in the family affairs of Governor Ahmed Aliyu Sokoto.
After reading the first information report (FIR) to the accuse Umar Tureta he pleaded not guilty to the charges level against him.
The chief Magistrate Fatma Hassan however ordered the accuse to be remanded in prison custody until 6th of September 2024 when his application for bail would be determine by the court.
The prosecutor, Police inspector Abdulrahman Mansur however objected to the bail application sought by council to the accuse, while asking the court to remand the accuse in prison custody pending the date set by the court for ruling on his bail application.
Council to the accuse Barrister Almustapha Yusuf Abubakar and Shamsuddeen Dauda while reacting to the court decision, said they would approach the court with formal bail application of their client.
It could be recalled that, on Sunday the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Sokoto State chapter on Sunday condemned the arrest and detention of Shafi’u Umar Tureta, a Special Assistant to Senator Aminu Waziri Tambuwal on Media by the Police.
PDP publicity secretary Hassan Sahabi Sanyinnawal, stated that Umar Tureta was arrested on the order of the Sokoto State Governor, Ahmed Aliyu for sharing a viral video clip of the Governor.
He said the party wish to draw the attention of the Governor on the fact that the visuals in question must have been recorded by camera men attached to his office and leaked to the public”
” It’s not a crime under Nigerian law to make public, videos of the Governor’s public engagements or of events attended by his family, mo matter how embarrassing the clips may be. It is therefore, his task or that of his aides to ensure that such materials do not get to the public arena”.
“The PDP wishes to caution the Sokoto State Government of its fast worsening human rights record, occasioned by its notoriety for harassment and assault on dissenting opinion”.
“We hereby, counsel Ahmed Aliyu to turn his energy towards improving on the dismal performance of his regime, rather than the desperate struggle to stifle freedom of expression in the state”.
“Our party supporters and media personnel are not responsible for the Governor’s personal and administrative deficits. We advise therefore, that he should endeavor to deal with his constructive and proactive ways, instead of visiting his frustration for on innocent citizens”.
“The PDP demands the immediate, unconditional release of Shafi’u Umar Tureta and a final stop to the brutality meted by the Sokoto State Government on citizens for simply exercising their constitutional right to criticize bad governance and unbecoming conduct of those on power in the state.” Government of its fast-worsening human rights record, occasioned by its notoriety for harassment and assault on dissenting opinion”.
“We hereby, counsel Ahmed Aliyu to turn his energy towards improving on the dismal performance of his regime, rather than the desperate struggle to stifle freedom of expression in the state”.
“Our party supporters and media personnel are not responsible for the Governor’s personal and administrative deficits. We advise therefore, that he should endeavor to deal with his constructive and proactive ways, instead of visiting his frustration for on innocent citizens”.
“The PDP demands the immediate, unconditional release of Shafi’u Umar Tureta and a final stop to the brutality meted by the Sokoto State Government on citizens for simply exercising their constitutional right to criticize bad governance and unbecoming conduct of those on power in the state.”