A final-year student of the Federal University, Dutse, Jigawa State, Aminu Mohammed, who was arrested for allegedly insulting the first lady, Aisha Buhari, has enjoyed all-round freedom.
Mohammed was arrested a few weeks ago over a social media post rants on the President’s wife, saying Aisha Buhari added weight after eating poor people’s money.
He was later charged in court by the police and was remanded in custody.
Also read: Aisha Buhari’s troll: Echoes of freedom for Jigawa University student
The arrest of the critics generated a lot of reactions on social media, as many Nigerians condemned Aisha Buhari.
The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) had earlier announced plans to embark on a nationwide protest over the arrest of the final student.
Amnesty International had called for his unconditional release.
The first lady has finally withdrawn the case against Aminu Mohammed, and he has been released by the police.
Aisha withdraws case
Mrs Aisha Buhari had withdrawn the defamation case against Aminu Mohammed, a student of Federal University, Dutse, who was arrested for allegedly defaming her on Twitter sometime back.
Her lawyer, Fidelis Ogbobe, was at the Federal Capital Territory High Court on Friday, December 2, where he stated that the President’s wife has withdrawn the case following the intervention of well-meaning Nigerians.
The first lady had dragged Aminu before the court over a tweet he posted claiming that she was feeding ‘fat’ on poor people’s money.
The tweet, which was posted in Hausa, read: “Su mama anchi kudin talkawa ankoshi.” It loosely translates as “Mama has fed fat on poor people’s money.” A picture of Aisha was also posted with the tweet.
After two weeks in detention, Mohammed was arraigned before Justice Yusuf Halilu of the Federal Capital Territory High Court at Maitama, on Tuesday, November 29. Although he pleaded not guilty, the judge ordered that he should be remanded at Suleja prison in Niger State.
The police said the alleged offence of the 24-year-old student bordered on defamation and cyberstalking, which contravened Section 391 of the Penal Code.
In the one-count charge marked: CR/89/2022, and dated 23 November, the police said “between May and June 2022 within the jurisdiction of this court, did intentionally open a Twitter handle with the name …Catalyst and screenshot the photograph of her Excellency Hajia Aisha Buhari and wrote on it in Hausa language… roughly translated to English language to mean ‘Mama has embezzled monies meant for the poor to satisfaction’ and posted same on your above Twitter handle.. knowing same to be false and capable of affecting her reputation.”
CK Agu, Mohammed’s counsel, had earlier requested bail for his client to enable him start his final exams on Monday, but the court did not grant the application.
In the photos circulating on social media, Mohammed was seen with the NANS president at the police station shortly after his release.
