Adamawa Businessman Bags Two-And-Half Years In Jail For Insulting Gov Fintiri

Magistrate Japhet Basani of a Yola Chief Magistrate Court II has sentenced an Adamawa-based businessman, Ali Yakubu, to 30 months in prison.

Naija News reports that the businessman was sentenced for calling Governor Ahmadu Fintiri ‘Father of all thieves’ in a Facebook post.

He was however given an option of a N50,000 fine for using abusive language against Fintiri.

Ali Yakubu was also sentenced to six-month imprisonment without option of fine for disturbance of public peace.

In ruling on the case on Wednesday, Magistrate Basani, said the court arrived at the verdict after it found the man guilty of the two charges brought against him by the prosecution.

He was charged with publishing insulting and denigrating statements in Hausa and Fulfulde against Fintiri on the 11th, 12th, 13th, 17th, 20th and 29th July 2021 respectively on his Facebook page.

He was accused of labelling Governor Fintiri as a thief, a father of all thieves in Nigeria who stole indomie, spaghetti and billions of naira.

A statement of complaint by the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Afraimu Jingi said the action of the defendant generated tension in the State. When the complaint was read and interpreted to the defendant, he admitted that he had indeed insulted Governor Fintiri

Earlier, counsels to the complainant, A. M. Iliyasu, and M.A. Adamu, called 2 witnesses who testified in court and tendered confessional statements in both English and Hausa languages respectively among other exhibits.

On his part, counsel to the defendant and now convict, R. N. Agav, pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy, informing the court that his client is a first time offender.