Kaduna-based public commentator Mahadi Shehu has been remanded in prison following his arraignment on Tuesday at the Chief Magistrate’s Court on Ibrahim Taiwo Road, Kaduna.
Shehu faces a two-count charge of conspiracy, aiding and abetting terrorism under Section 26 (2)(3) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, and inciting public disturbances under Section 78 of the Penal Code Law of Kaduna State, 2017.
The charges stem from a post on his X (formerly Twitter) account, where he alleged plans by the Federal Government to establish a French military base in Nigeria’s North-East, as purportedly claimed by Niger Republic’s military leader, Abdourahamane Tchiani. The Nigerian government later rebutted the claim.
Fact-checks by credible media outlets revealed that the video shared by Shehu was fake. Investigations confirmed the video originally depicted Nigerian soldiers at Bamako Airport during their deployment for an ECOWAS peacekeeping mission in northern Mali. The footage was first uploaded to YouTube in January 2013.
Following an investigation by the Department of State Services (DSS), Shehu was arrested and arraigned in court. Presiding Magistrate Abubakar Lamido ordered Shehu’s remand in prison custody, with the case adjourned to January 14, 2025, for further hearing.
