Student sent to prison over tweet criticising Aisha Buhari

A student of the Federal University, Dutse, Jigawa State, who was arrested after criticising First Lady Aisha Buhari, on Twitter, has been remanded at Suleja Prison in Niger State.

Aminu Mohammed was arraigned at the FCT High Court No. 14 in Abuja, on Tuesday, for cyber stalking and was denied bail despite pleading not guilty to the charges filed against him.

Mohammed was allegedly arrested on the orders of the First Lady a few days ago, sparking outrage among Nigerians, with many calling for his release.

He had in June tweeted in Hausa language that the First Lady was feeding fat on poor people’s money.

The tweet read: “Su mama Anchi Kudin Talakawa an koshi,” translated, “Mama has fed fat on poor people’s money.”

The 500-level student was picked up from his school and taken straight to the Presidential Villa, Abuja, where he was allegedly brutalised and humiliated by the police, suspected to be attached to the Department of State Services (DSS).

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Speaking with BBC Hausa, Mohammed’s lawyer, CK Agu, said, “Even in the court session yesterday, we notified the judge about the efforts made to have him released on bail, but we did not receive any reply from the police.

“We applied to the court to release the student on bail, on health grounds and the fact that he will sit for exam on December 5. The court has ordered the police to provide the bail application before it for consideration between Tuesday and Wednesday.

Justice Yusuf Halilu ordered the defendant to be remanded in Suleja Prison pending the hearing and determination of his bail application.

The application, which has been filed by his lawyer will be heard before the week runs out.

The one count charge read: “That you Aminu Adamu, male of Anguwar Sarakuna, Bauch, Bauchi state sometime 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 on 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.”