Sokoto state Police Command, on Friday arraigned the son of a Special Adviser to Governor Aminu Tambuwal and three others for alleged criminal conspiracy, rape and defamation of character before the Chief Magistrate’s Court.
The suspects, including Aminu Hayatu Tafida, Umar Abubakar, Mas’ud Abubakar Gidado and Aliyu Shehu Kangiwa, were also charged with act of gross indecency, abetment, sale of obscene book and printing or engraving matter known to be defamatory.
Addressing the court, the Prosecution Officer, ASP Samuel Sule, one Hajiya Safiya of number 15, Badon Barade area complained at the Criminal Investigation Department, CID, against Aminu Hayatu Tafida (AKA Baffa) of Gidan Hakki area.
She complained that sometimes in 2017, Baffa took her daughter when she was 16 years old, lured her to Phoenix Guest Inn, had unlawful carnal knowledge with her and recorded her nudity in an 18 seconds video clip.
He further told the court that Safiya alleged that the suspect conspired with Umar Abubakar, Mas’ud Abubakar Gidado and Aliyu Shehu Kangiwa and Hafiz Ja’afar to circulate the nude video on social media, thereby resulting in the termination of her planned wedding, which was scheduled to take place in October, this year.
According Sule, the acts contravened sections 60(2), 260, 377, 262, 48, 171, 173 and 379 of the Sokoto State Panel Code.
Counsel Baffa, Barrister A Y Abubakar however objected to the charges, submitting that there was no specific charge filed against his client.
“The contents of the First Information Report, FIR, as it relates to 1st defendant are ambiguous and therefore, incompetent in view of the provision of section 90 of the administration of criminal justice law, 2019 of Sokoto state. An objection to incompetent charges can only be raised before the plea is taken. We therefore argue that the FIR, the contents are ambiguous, therefore be rejected by the court,” he told the court.
The Chief Magistrate, Shu’aibu Ahmad adjourned the case to Monday, to enable the police prepare and file their charges properly.
He ordered that the suspects be remanded in the custody of the CID.
