Court remands Zamfara APC spokesman over public incitement, defamation of character

The Publicity Committee Secretary of the All Progressives Congress(APC) Alhaji Ibrahim Danmaliki Gidan Goga, was yesterday arraigned before the Upper Shari’a Court in Gusau on charges bordering on defamation of the character of Governor Bello Matawalle as well as inciting public disturbance.

Presenting the case, counsel to Governor Bello Matawalle, Barrister Ibrahim Haruna, said Danmaliki had held a press conference last Saturday, where he castigated Governor Matawalle and ‘‘wanted to cause public disturbance, an action contrary to Section 287 and 142 of the Sharia Penal Code’’.

Barrister Haruna told the court that the statement from the press conference was published by both the conventional and social media outfits, adding that the governor’s image was tarnished as a result of that, ‘‘a development that could cause public disturbance’’.

Danmaliki, who once served as a commissioner in the state, pleaded not guilty to the charges after which his counsel, Barr. Bello Umar, asked for a copy of the charges with which he urged the court to dismiss the case or release his client on bail.

But the counsel to Governor Matawalle objected to the request, saying there was no compulsion for the court to grant him bail.

After listening to both parties, the presiding judge, Justice Hadi Sani, ordered the accused to be remanded in prison custody till December 12, 2019 for continuation of the case.