Aminu Muhammad, a student of Federal University Dutse (FUD), has been remanded in prison over his tweet on Aisha Buhari. Muhammad, who hails from Azare in Bauchi state, is a final-year student at the department of environmental management.
The Student was arrested by the police over a tweet that appeared to mock Aisha. The tweet, which was posted in Hausa in June 2022, reads: “Su mama anchi kudin talkawa ankoshi.” meaning that first lady Aisha Buhari feeds fat on masses’money. Muhammed was secretly arraigned before FCT High Court on Tuesday, contrary to earlier statement by the police that he would be arraigned on Wednesday.
It is not immediately clear if the student was allowed legal representation in court but his uncle, Shehu Baba-Azare, Mr Muhammed’s uncle, described his trial as a “secret arraignment”
“It’s clearly a secret arraignment because they did not inform us. We are very concerned about his situation. He will sit for his final exam on December 5,” Mr Baba-Azare said.
Mrs Buhari has come under criticisms for illegally incarcerating Mr Muhammed, with many Nigerians and human rights organisations calling for his unconditional release.
Mrs Buhari and her media aides have not made any comment on this development since it was reported.
Amnesty International on Sunday, berated Mrs Buhari and the SSS for illegally jailing Mr Muhammed, while calling for his immediate release.
Condemning Mr Muhammed’s detention by the SSS on the order of Mrs Buhari, human rights lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, in tweet said:
“It is petty, ridiculous and unconstitutional for the SSS to arrest a citizen for “mocking” the wife of the President on social media.
“Nigeria is not Iran, North Korea or China. We’ll not tolerate such reckless abuse of power. Anyone related to the young man should reach out,” Mr Effiong added.
