A Yola Chief Magistrate Court II, presided by Magistrate Japhet Basani, has on Wednesday convicted and sentenced a Numan based businessman, Ali Yakubu Numan to two and half year-jail term for calling governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, father of all thieves.
Numan was convicted to two year jail-term with option of N50, 000 fine for using abusive language against Fintiri, and also convicted for 6 months without option of fine for the disturbance of public peace.
Magistrate Basani, said the court arrived at the verdict after it found the man guilty of the two charges brought against him by the prosecution.
Numan, had on the11th, 12th, 13th, 17th, 20th and 29th July, 2021, wrote and published insulting statements in Hausa and Fulfulde languages on his Facebook page against the Governor.
He described Governor Fintiri in the publication as a thief, a biggest and father of all thieves in Nigeria who stole indomie, spaghetti and hundreds of billions.
Earlier, counsels to the complainant, A. M. Iliyasu, and M.A. Adamu, called 2 witnesses who testified in court and tendered confessional statements in both English and Hausa languages respectively among other exhibits.
On his part, counsel to the defendant and now convict, R. N. Agav, pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy, informing the court that his client is a first time offender.
