CSO condemns arrest of university student over ‘anti-Aisha Buhari tweet’

A Civil Society Organisation, CSO, Northern Nigeria Human Rights Advocates  (NONIHRA) has condemned in strong terms, the arrest and incarceration of Aminu Adamu Muhammad, the 23 year old student of Federal University Dutse, Jigawa State over frivolous allegation of defaming the character of Nigeria’s First Lady, Aisha Buhari.

SOLACEBASE reports that the management of Federal University Dutse (FUD), Jigawa State, on Monday confirmed the arrest of Aminu Adamu, following a Twitter comment against the wife of the Nigerian President, Aisha Buhari.

On 9 June 2022, the student, Aminu Ádámù Muhammad, tweeted a photo of Mrs Buhari with a caption in Hausa which translates to: “Mama is feeding fat on poor people’s money.”

Mr Aminu from Azare, Bauchi State, is a final year student at the Department of Environmental Management of the university.

A statement issued by the Northern Nigeria Human Rights Advocates Secretary, Abba A. Hikima, on Monday said the CSO also observes with dismay, the arbitrary manner in which the victim was arrested, detained, tortured and smuggled out of this state in clear violation of the provisions of Nigeria’s Constitution and the extant criminal procedures laws.

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”In democracies, politicians and public figures must wear thick skin and allow citizens the needed atmosphere to express themselves freely without fear of intimidation.”

‘’The offense of defamation, even where proven, is no more than a simple offense for which punitive fine is awarded. It is our firm belief therefore that the victim in this case is inequitably treated because the allegations against him involves Nigeria’s First Lady. A clear accord of advantage and privilege to the First Lady and which Nigeria’s constitution prohibits,‘’ the statement said.

According to the statement, against this backdrop, we call on all persons and authorities concerned to release Aminu Muhammad immediately and issue him apologies and compensation forthwith.

‘’The Nigerian lawmakers at all levels are equally required to in the advancement of the constitutional right of free speech, repeal and strike out all extant penal laws criminalizing the tort of defamation.‘’