Student’s tweet: Aisha Buhari withdraws suit against Aminu Mohammed

The Federal University, Dutse, student, Aminu Mohammed, who has been on trial for allegedly criticising the wife of the President, Aisha Buhari, has been released.

Aminu was handed over to the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), leaders upon his release.

The final-year student was arrested on November 18, by the Department of the State Security, DSS, operatives following the alleged social media attack using his Twitter.

The wife of the president, Aisha Buhari, ordered the arrest of Aminu over his criticism that the first lady had become “rotund feeding fat on poor people’s money” the comments he made in the Hausa language.

The tweet, which was posted on June 8, reads: “Su mama anchi kudin talkawa ankoshi.”

Aminu’s tweet was posted with Aisha Buhari’s photo, and captioned: “Mama has eaten poor people’s money and is now full”.

Aminu was however arraigned before Justice Yusuf Halilu of the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Maitama, where he pleaded not guilty and was remanded at Suleja prison in Niger State.

The charges preferred against him are Cybercrime, Cybersquatting, Computer Related Forgery, Conspiracy and Criminal Breach of Trust.

Meanwhile, Hajia Aisha Buhari withdrew her case against Aminu following pressure and condemnation by activists, Amnesty International, the National Association of Nigerian Students, and other citizens.

The prosecution counsel, Fidelis Ogbobe, withdrew the case on behalf of Mrs Buhari, adding that the First Lady, being the mother of the nation, decided to withdraw the case, following the intervention of “well-meaning Nigerians.”

Ogbobe, while moving the motion for the withdrawal of the case, quoted section 108 subsection 2(a) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act.

Justice Yusuf Halilu of the FCT High Court, however, commended Mrs Buhari for withdrawing the case.

Halilu, while issuing the release warrant, called on parents to always monitor their children to avoid a recurrence.

It would be recalled that Amnesty International Nigeria condemned the arrest and alleged torture of Aminu Muhammed.

It added that the 500-level undergraduate of the Federal University, Dutse, Jigawa must be released and the charges against him, which it described as bogus, be dropped.

Amnesty International Nigeria, frowned at the alleged torture and other ill-treatment, including severe beatings, suffered by the student when he was detained.

“The Nigerian authorities must urgently release Aminu Muhammed and drop all charges against him. He is a student accused of defaming Aisha Buhari, the First Lady of Nigeria, on Twitter.”

Amnesty International Nigeria, said the secret detention and denial of access to his family and lawyer, is a clear violation of international human rights law.

The Director of Amnesty International, Nigeria, Osai Ojigho described the actions of the government is disgraceful.

“It is beyond disgraceful that the Nigerian authorities have arrested and allegedly tortured Aminu Adamu Muhammed after he merely Tweeted about the First Lady of Nigeria. This deeply repressive act brazenly violates his human rights.

“The bogus charges against Aminu must be urgently and unconditionally dropped. The authorities should instead order an investigation into his unlawful detention and abusive treatment. The fact that he was detained incommunicado highlights the rampant impunity enjoyed by the Nigerian authorities.

“Aminu’s final exams are scheduled for December 5, 2022, at the Federal University Dutse. He must be urgently freed and be able to finish his degree,” he said.

According to Amnesty International, although President Muhammadu Buhari ratified the Anti-Torture Act in 2017, torture and other ill-treatment remain pervasive in Nigeria, with police and state security agents continuing to subject detainees to torture and other cruel, inhumane, or degrading treatment under his government.

“The heavy-handed mistreatment of Aminu is a clear attempt to strike fear into the hearts of young Nigerians who use social media to hold the powerful to account. The Nigerian authorities must urgently respect and uphold the right to freedom of expression.

“Amnesty International is concerned by the growing number of attacks on freedom of expression in Nigeria. The authorities are increasingly using unlawful arrests and ill-treatment to stifle those who criticize the state. This must stop now.” Osai Ojigho, warned.

Ojigho said, “The heavy-handed mistreatment of Aminu is a clear attempt to strike fear into the hearts of young Nigerians who use social media to hold the powerful to account. The Nigerian authorities must urgently respect and uphold the right to freedom of expression.

“Amnesty International is concerned by the growing number of attacks on freedom of expression in Nigeria. The authorities are increasingly using unlawful arrests and ill-treatment to stifle those who criticize the state. This must stop now.”

Also, the NANS in a press release on December 1 decried Aminu’s ordeal and called on the students in Nigeria to get ready for a nationwide demonstration on Monday, 5 December, to demand the unconditional release of Muhammad.

Apparently responding to the warnings and pressure from the students and Amnesty International, the First Lady, on Friday, withdraw her case against the student.