Kaduna court remands social commentator, Mahadi Shehu, in prison for alleging that FG plans to site french military base in NorthEast

A Kaduna-based public commentator, Mahadi Shehu, has been remanded at the Kaduna Correctional Service, following his arraignment at the Chief Magistrate Court (CMC 1), Kaduna on a two-count charge of conspiracy, aiding and abetting terrorism.

The Nation reports that Shehu had alleged in a post made on his X account that the Federal Government had plans to build a French military base in the Northeast as reportedly claimed by the Niger Republic Military leader, Abdourahamane Tchiani, which was later rebutted by the Federal Government.

The allegation was later discovered to be fake and was fact-checked by credible media organisations, confirming the video originally showed Nigerian soldiers at Bamako Airport during the deployment for an ECOWAS Peace Keeping Mission in Northern Mali. It was first posted on YouTube in January 2013.

Shehu was arrested by the Department of State Service (DSS) some days ago and was arraigned at the Chief Magistrate Court for prosecution after an investigation of the defendant by the DSS.  According to the prosecutors, his offence is contrary to section 26 (2)(3) of the Terrorism (Prevention & Prohibition) Act, 2022 and Inciting Public Disturbances Contrary to Section 78 of the Penal Code Law of Kaduna State, 2017.

The Magistrate, Abubakar Lamido, remanded Shehu, pending the determination of the case on an adjourned date slated for January 14 for further hearing of the case.