By Oyero Abiodun Yakub
Aminu Mohammed, a student of the Federal University, Dutse Jigawa has been sent to the Suleja Correctional Center in Niger State, after tweeting about Aisha Buhari.
The 500 Level student was arrested from his school some days back, and taken straight to the Presidential Villa, where he was allegedly brutalized, over a tweet he made against the First lady in June.
Mohammed tweeted in Hausa on the 8 of June “Su mama anchi kudin talakawa ankoshi” which when translated to English means “Mama has fed fat on poor people’s money”, alongside the First Lady’s picture. The tweet which gathered over 4k reactions led the student to jail.
His arrest steered an outrage on social media as Nigerians called for his release, including the National Association of Nigeria Students (NANS).
Mohammed’s lawyer, CK Agu made it known via an interview with BBC Hausa that the Judge was notified about the efforts made to release him on bail, but didn’t receive any response from the police.
Justice Yusuf Halilu ordered that the boy be remanded in Suleja Prison pending the hearing and determination of his bail application.
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 offense punishable under Section 391 of the penal code.”
