The Federal High Court in Kano has granted Shehu Mahdi bail in the sum of 10 million Naira and one surety in the like sum who must be a resident of Kano Municipal and owns a landed property to be verified by the court registry.
Mahdi was arraigned in court by the police on six-count charges bordering on cyber-crimes with the intent to defame the reputation of Governor Aminu Masari and his cabinet and to incite the public against them.
He alleged in media interviews and published on his Facebook page that the Katsina State government under Masari squandered billions of naira from public money.
Mahdi who arrived at the court with a neckband and crutches is facing six-count charges bordering on publishing materials on the internet with the intent to cause damage to the integrity of the Katsina State government.
He was consequently detained and arraigned before justice Hadiza Shagari of the Federal High Court Katsina. The case was, however, transferred to Kano after Mahdi petitioned the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court accusing the judge of bias against him.
In Kano, the judge, Justice Lewis Allagoa, directed the police to take their plea or he will discharge the defendant. Following this, Mahdi pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
The prosecution led by Samuel Lough, an Assistant Commissioner of Police opposed his bail application on the grounds that Mahdi had not presented any medical report. Justice Allagoa, however, granted him bail.
Counsel for Mahdi, Illas Habib declined to comment on the matter. The case is adjourned to the 19th of May for a day-to-day trial.
