French military base: Kaduna Court remands Mahadi in prison

Kaduna-based public commentator Mahadi Shehu has been remanded at the Kaduna Correctional Service Facility following his arraignment on Tuesday at the Chief Magistrate Court (CMC 1), located at Ibrahim Taiwo Road, Kaduna.

Shehu was remanded on two counts of conspiracy, aiding and abetting terrorism, 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.

Mahadi Shehu had alleged in a post made on his X account insinuating plans by the Federal Government to site a French military base in the north-east of Nigeria, as reportedly claimed by the Niger Republic Military Leader, Abdourahamane Tchiani, which was later rebutted by the Nigerian Government.

An allegation that was later discovered to be fake, as fact-checked by credible media organisations, including The Cable, 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.

He was arrested by the Department of State Security Service (DSS) some days ago and was summarily arraigned at the Chief Magistrate Court for prosecution after an investigation of the defendant by the DSS.

The Judge of the Magistrate Court, Abubakar Lamido, remanded Mahadi Shehu in the Correctional Service Facility, pending the determination of the case on an adjourned date slated for the 14th of January 2025 for further hearing of the case.

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