Buhari Fake Wedding: DSS arraigns mastermind

Kabiru Muhammad, who was arraigned for allegedly masterminding a video purporting a marriage between President Muhammadu Buhari and his minister of humanitarian affairs, Sadiya Umar-Farouq, has been granted N1million bail.

The Department of State Security Services, SSS, had on Tuesday arraigned Mr Muhammad, before a Magistrate Court, sitting in Kano on two-count charge of defamation and injurious falsehood, offenses contrary to section 392 and 393 of the Kano Penal Code.

Mr Muhammad is 32-year-old businessman in Kano.

During the proceeding, presided over by Senior Magistrate Aminu Gabari, the SSS prosecuting counsel, IB Bulus, told the court that the defendant committed the offence on October 10, 2019 in Kano State.

According to Mr Bulus, the defendant also published a fake wedding ceremony meant to hold between President Buhari and Zainab Ahmed, minister of finance.

“He [the defendant] ought to reasonably know that the offence is capable of causing confusing and injury to the personalities involved, damaging their character and causing disaffection among their family members and associates,” Me Bulus added.

He, therefore, urged the court to remand the defendant for seven days in the SSS custody, pending the conclusion of investigation and receipt of legal advice from Ministry of Justice, Kano.

On his part, counsel to the defendant, T.M. Edema, objected the remand of his client in SSS custody, arguing that, “once an accused person is brought to court, it is presumed that the matter is ripe for hearing not for further investigation”.

Mr Edema urged the court to grant the defendant bail in accordance with section 35 and 36 of 1999 constitution of Nigeria as amended, and section 168 of the administration of criminal justice law of Kano State.

In his judgment, Mr Gabari said the offence is bailable and, therefroe, granted the defendant a bail for the sum of N1million with two reliable sureties in like sum.

Mr Gabari said: “One of the surety must be the Chairman of Singer Market Association, while the second surety must be a civil servant grade level 15 or above.”

He also ordered that the SSS should identify the permanent residence of both the defendant and sureties, just as he ordered the defendant to always report to the SSS Kano command office from 8:00AM to 2:00PM every working days, and 9:00AM to 12:00PM during weekends.

The case was then adjourned to February 5 for further mention.