Gbolahan Salman Sokoto
A Sokoto Chief Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday charged three middle aged men for abetment, indecent act, sale and printing of obscene book by circulating nude video.
The three accused includes Aminu Hayatu-Tafida, a son to one of the aide of Governor Tambuwal. Others include Umar Abubakar and Mas’ud Abubakar-Gidado, all residents of Sokoto metropolis.
It could be recalled that the three accused men were earlier arraigned along with one Aliyu Shehu Kangiwa, who was discharged as a result of failure to established a prima facie case against him.
The earlier charges included alleged criminal conspiracy which was withdrawn by the trial judge on the ground of absent of incriminating evidences against the accused men.
In his ruling, Chief Magistrates’ Sha’aibu Ahmad, said he considered the submissions of the persecution police officer, ASP Samuel Sule, who led four witnesses and presented six exhibits in the earlier first information report.
Ahmad said the current three offences contravened sections 48, 171 and 173 penal code of Sokoto state.
According to the charges, Hayatu-Tafida was said to have recorded a sex tape and shared it with other accused men, then circulated same through different social media platforms comprising WhatsApp and Instagram.
Ahmad said the accused offences the sharing of 18 seconds nudity video clip occurred sometimes Sept. 2020.
He added that the alleged sex tape was recorded in 2017 involving the complainant 16-year-old daughter in Phoenix Guest Inn.
When the charges were read, the accused persons pleaded not guilty.
Mr Almustapha Abubakar, Defence Counsel to Hayatu-Tafida and Mr Shamsu Dauda, also Defence Counsel of other two accused persons, made an oral application to recalls three prosecution witnesses for further cross examination.
Chief Magistrates’ Ahmad granted the application for recalling the witnesses and adjourned the case to March 3, for recross examination and ordered the accused men to continue with bail earlier granted.
