Social critic, Muhammad Mahdi, arraigned for allegedly inciting the public against Katsina Governor

A social critic, Muhammad Mahdi Shehu, has been arrained before a Federal High Court sitting in Kano, for allegedly defaming the character of the Katsina State Governor, Aminu Bello Masari, the government and that of the Secretary to the State Government, Mr Mustapha Inuwa.

The prosecution counsel, ACP Simon Lough, accused Mahdi of alleged violation of his bail conditions and publishing 32 new defamation episodes from March 2021 to June 28, 2021, against Masari on the internet.

In June 2020, Mahdi Shehu who is the chairman of Dialogue Group Limited, petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), alleged that the Katsina State Government under the administration of Governor Aminu Bello Masari, has misappropriated N52.6 billion in the last five years.

Part of Shehu’s allegations was that N24 billion state security funds were diverted under Governor Aminu Masari‘s watch from 2015 to 2018 and a whooping N40 billion was diverted in shoddy circumstances during the same period.

Shehu also alleged that N49 million was spent on phones for state executive council members, while hundreds of millions were allegedly diverted into accounts of some commissioners, special advisers and a National Assembly member.

The Presiding Judge, Justice A. Lima adjourned the case to between July 26 and 27, 2021 for hearing.