A Sokoto Chief Magistrates’ Court on Friday – yesterday, February 21 – adjourned the case of Hamdiyya Sidi, a social media activist accused of public nuisance, to March 13 and 14 for defence.
Chief Magistrate, Faruk Umar, adjourned the case after the Police Prosecutor, Insp Khalid Musa, led in evidence the case Investigation Police Officer (IPO), Mr Tukur Abdulhadi.
Sidi, 18, was charged with allegedly circulating content capable of inciting public disturbance, on a social media platform.
She was accused of authoring a group clip that allegedly highlighted authorities’ negligence regarding continued banditry in Sabon Birnin Daji and other parts of Sokoto State.
According to the First Information Report (FIR), she alleged that bandits continued to abduct people and demand ransom in remote villages without any concrete action by the authorities.
When the case was first mentioned, the Police Prosecutor said the offence contravened the penal code law, an allegation Sidi denied.
At the resumed hearing on Friday, the witness disclosed that he was the IPO and had obtained the accused person’s statements.
He presented a flash drive and a translated version of the statement, which the judge admitted as exhibits.
During cross-examination, Defence Counsel, Mr Mustapha Danjuma, questioned Abdulhadi, who admitted the statement was taken without the accused’s legal representative.
He also revealed that the drive came from a desktop computer where he stored the clips.
The trial judge adjourned the case to March 13 and 14 for further hearing and ordered the accused to remain on the bail previously granted.
