One Kabiru Mohammed who allegedly created and shared a fake video of President Muhammadu Buhari’s wedding to Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar Farouq has been dragged to court by the Department of State Services DSS.
Mr Mohammed’s arraignment comes 10 months after he was initially arrested by the DSS, following a petition by Ms. Ahmed who called on the service to investigate the photos and videos as well as uncover the persons involved in the circulation of such materials.
The DSS claimed Mohammed had confessed to creating and circulating the video and arraigned him at a Chief Magistrates’ Court at Nomansland in Kano on two count charges of defamation and injurious falsehood.
Counsel to the DSS, I.B. Bulus, said Mohammed’s action caused “confusion and injury to the persons involved, tarnishing their character and causing disaffection among their families and associates, through the spreading of fake news.”
He therfore prayed that justice Aminu Gabari of the magistrate court would order the remand of the defendant in the DSS custody for seven days.
However, the Judge turned down the prayer of the DSS and granted Mohammed bail after his counsel, Moses Edema argued that the alleged offence was bailable.
Delivering his ruling, Justice Gabari granted the defendant bail in the sum of N1m with two sureties in like sum.
The magistrate also ruled that Mohammed must daily report to the DSS office from 8 am to 2 pm on weekdays and 9 am to 2 pm during weekends.
