By Ankeli Emmanuel (Sokoto)
All eyes are on Sokoto as lovers of justice patiently awaits Chief Magistrate Shu' aibu Ahmad's judgement on a case of abetment, indecent act, sale and printing of the obscene book in the form of circulating nude video, filled against Aminu Hayatu Tafida, a son to governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal's Special Adviser on Social Investment alongside Umar Abubakar, Mas'ud Abubakar-Gidado and Aliyu Shehu Kangiwa.
The four are being prosecuted for offences bordering on alleged circulation of an 18 seconds nude video, criminal conspiracy, abetment, sales and printing of obscene books.
However, in one of the sittings, Magistrate Shuabu, discharged the fourth accused, Aliyu Shehu Kangiwa over the inability of the Police Prosecuting officer, ASP Samuel Sule, to establish any incriminating evidence against him. According to Magistrate Shuaibu on that sitting, the charges are offences that contravene sections 48, 171 and 173 penal code of Sokoto state.
Explaining the charges which occurred sometime in 2017, Magistrate Shuaibu said Hayatu-Tafida was said to have recorded a sex tape and shared it with other accused men, then circulated same through different social media platforms. "The alleged sex tape was recorded in 2017 involving a 16 years old daughter of the complainant".
In their reactions, all the three accused persons, Hayatu Tafida, Masud Abubakar and Umar Abubakar, pleaded not guilty to the offences.
Following that, the Defence council to the first, second and third accused persons, Almustapha Abubakar, and Shamsu Dauda, separately made an oral appeal before the Court for the first, second and third prosecution witnesses to be called to court for cross-examination.
All the prosecuting witnesses have all appeared in court and the case has witnessed series of adjournments.
However, in today's sitting, Magistrate Shu'aibu Ahmed adjourned the case to 31/8/2021 for judgment on the matter. NNL.
