IGP Summons Zamfara Governorship Candidate On Alleged Libel Against Magajin Garin Sokoto

The Inspector-General of Police, Muhammed Adamu, has summoned the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in 2019 elections, Sani Abdullahi Shinkafi (Wamban Shinkafi) over alleged criminal defamation against Magajin Garin Sokoto, Alhaji Hassan Ahmad Danbaba.

A letter, dated October 16, 2019, cited by Solacebase was signed by the Head of IGP Monitoring Unit, Force Headquarters, Abuja, Assistant Commissioner of Police A.A. Elleman.

According to the letter, Shinkafi, who is the interim chairman, Zamfara state Government Assets Recovery Committee, was scheduled to appear before the police on Monday, October 21, 2019, by 10 am.

The letter read: ‘’This office is investigating a case of criminal defamation and publication of injurious falsehood reported to the Inspector General of Police in which your name featured.

“In view of the above, you are kindly requested  to interview the undersigned, through SP Usman Garba on Monday 21st October 2019 by 1000hrs to shed more light on the allegations.’’

“Your cooperation on this regard would be highly appreciated, please.”

Sani Abdullahi Shinkafi had on September 30, 2019, wrote an open letter claiming that Magajin Garin Sokoto had “converted into personal use”  the Zamfara Halal Hotel Abuja.

Similarly, he accused the immediate past Governor of Zamfara state Abdulaziz Yari of “fraudulently” handing over the property to Alhaji Hassan Danbaba; and also claiming that the hotel had generated net revenue of N950, 000,000 in eight years “without remitting a dime to the Zamfara state government.”

However, Magajin Garin Sokoto,  denied these allegations, noting that the hotel was leased to his company for 25 years, and it was leased to him in 2009 during the tenure of Governor Mahmuda Aliyu Shinkafi, almost three years before Yari became governor, among others.

Alhaji Hassan Ahmad Danbaba had, therefore, sued Sani Abdullahi Shinkafi for criminal defamation and assassination of character.