News Editor
Chief Magistrate Court 4 sitting in Yola, Adamawa state had on Monday, sentenced Youth Leader of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) Hong Local Government Area, Ikamu Hamidu Kato, to two (2) years in prison for insulting President Muhammadu Buhari and Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Gida Mustapha.
Kato had earlier pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy by convicting him with an option of fine because he is a family man and has orphans under him, but the presiding judge said that the court had considered the plea of the convict to temper justice with mercy, his conduct during the trial, his apology, but that he will not be left to go Scot free but will be punished to serve as deterrent to others and therefore sentenced him accordingly.
Chief Magistrate Dimas Elishama convicted the Youth Leader to one year in prison for the use of insulting or abusing words with N25, 000 option of fine.
Likewise, the court has convicted and sentenced the defendant to one year in prison with N25, 000 option of fine for inciting public disturbance, and held that the sentences are to run concurrently.
The Youth Leader who is 41-year-old and hailed from Wuro Dole in Hong LGA, described Buhari and Boss Mustapha as useless human beings and specifically called SGF bastard and a dog in a video he posted on social media on the 10th of July 2021, which went viral.
He was later invited, investigated, and arraigned before the court by the Department of State Security (DSS) through the office of the Attorney General and Commissioner Ministry for Justice in the state for prosecution on Friday last week.
Upon his arraignment before the court on Friday last week, the convict pleaded guilty when the charge sheet was read and explained to him.
It was at this juncture that the court adjourned the matter to Monday the 2nd of August 2021 to enable the complainant call witnesses and tender exhibits to corroborate the plea of the defendant following an application by counsel to the complainant, M.A. Adamu.
During court sitting on Monday, M. A. Adamu, assembled 2 witnesses including Operative of the DSS, Zayyanu Adamu and Chairman Adamawa State Concern Citizens, Husseini Gambo Nakura who testified and tendered confessional statement of the defendant and flash derive and marked as exhibits.
