Magistrate Court IV sitting in Yola, has remanded the suspended youth leader of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the Hong Local Government Area of Adamawa State, Ikama Kato, in prison for insulting President Muhammadu Buhari and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha on Facebook.
It was gathered that Kato, in a viral video on Facebook called out Buhari and SGF, who hails from the same council with him, for failing to secure the lives of residents following recent attacks by armed men suspected to be Boko Haram members.
He labelled the SGF “a disappointment and a failure” just as he described the two leaders as “useless men” in power.
The Hong chapter of the PDP, however, suspended Kato for using vulgar language, adding that the party frowned on the abusive words used against SGF Mustapha.
Shortly after his suspension by the PDP, a remorseful Kato made another video and apologised.
However, a group, Adamawa Concerned Citizens, led by Hussain Gambo, a supporter of the SGF, dragged Kato before a magistrate’s court.
According to the group, it took the decision to serve as a deterrent to those using social media to slander responsible Nigerians.
The Chief Magistrate, Mr Dimas Gwama, who took the plea of the accused, ordered him to be remanded in prison till August 2.
According to PUNCH, a resident, Yunusa Abubakar, who condemned the inhumane treatment of Kato, who he said was in tears during his arraignment, said the case was an attack on free speech.
Abubakar stated that the loyalists of the SGF were out to curry favour with him and score cheap political popularity.