On Monday, Shafi’u Tureta, a media aide to former Sokoto State Governor Aminu Tambuwal, was arraigned before a Chief Magistrate’s Court in Sokoto State for allegedly defaming the current Sokoto State Governor, Ahmad Aliyu.
Tureta faced charges related to spreading unlawful media content, specifically for circulating videos and documents deemed defamatory towards Governor Aliyu. One of the videos allegedly showed the governor’s wife, Hajia Fatima Aliyu, spreading money on the ground during her birthday celebration, while another suggested that the governor had failed his Senior Secondary School Examination and struggled with English.
The case proceedings were held behind closed doors, as journalists were reportedly barred from covering the event on the orders of the Chief Magistrate, Fati Hassan. The defence counsel, Al’Mustafa Abubakar, confirmed that Tureta denied the charges and requested bail. However, the court adjourned the bail ruling to September 6, 2024, and Tureta was remanded in custody.
The Sokoto State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) condemned Tureta’s arrest, claiming it was ordered by Governor Aliyu in response to the circulation of the videos. The PDP called for Tureta’s immediate release, arguing that the videos may have been recorded and leaked by individuals within the governor’s own circle.
