Yakubu Busari
One Mr Samuel Bature, Male, 26 years old has pleaded not guilty, as he was arraigned on social media influence of blackmailing Governor Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang and his party, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on three (3) count charges.
The Plateau State High Court sitting in Jos Division at No, 8, State New High Court complex and presided over by Honourable Justice Kamyal has arraigned a social media influencer identified as Samuel Bature for an alleged attack on the Governor of Plateau State.
In his Facebook page handle the accused person is a statement of offence of defamation of character punishment contrary to section 372 of the penal code law of Plateau State 2017.
The defendant, who was docked before Justice Kamyal in now facing three-count charge bordering on conspiracy together with others now at large on or about 17/09/2024 at opposite NTA College Rayfield, Jos South LGA within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, without any lawful or moral justification made and published a defamatory statement against His Excellency, Barr. Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang and his political party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) when you posted on the social media thus, “Governor Mutfwang and his party the PDP’s desperation seems to have reached a crescendo at recent, with the uncovered plan to remove the APC house of Assembly members…”
The accused person Mr Samuel Bature also tagged the picture of the Governor while accusing him of “purchasing a luxurious 2025 BMW Model, valued at a staggering N280, 000,000.00 (Two Hundred and Eighty Million Naira) only was discovered at his residence…this extravagance has raised eyebrows and spark widespread intrigue and surprise”.
These pieces of information that you published on Facebook and WhatsApp platforms went viral with the intent to ridicule and lower the reputation of His Excellency Barr. Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang, the Governor of Plateau State before the estimation of the general public knowing full well that it was a concocted story yet, he deliberately published it and thereby committed the above-mentioned offense.
Secondly, the statement of offense is injurious, falsehood contrary to section 373 of the penal code law of Plateau State 2017.
Thirdly, statement of offense cyber staking contrary to section 24(b) of cybercrime (prohibition prevention, ETC ) act 2015
However, when the count charge was read to the defendant, Mr Samuel Bature, he pleaded not guilty to the three count charge.
The defendant’s counsel, Barr. Humprey J.M Dashe with A.R. Dasoem and C.D.David brought a bail application before the court but the attorney general and commissioner for Justice told the court that they were just served some few minutes ago and he hadn’t go through the bail application.
Daffi pleaded with the court to give him shortest time to respond to the defendant’s application by the law.
After listening to the argument, Justice Kamyal adjourned to the 4th Day of October 2024 for a hearing and ruling on the application filed by the defendant’s counsel, Mr Humphrey.
The Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice P. A. DAFFI Leading a team of 12 lawyers, JOEL TAHVAN ESQ. , Solicitor-General YOP RWANG ESQ., Director Citizen Rights and Law Reform SABO LONGJI ESQ., Director Civil Litigations.
SHETAK BEKLANG ESQ., Director Legal Drafting. H. WILLIAMS ESQ. Director of Public Prosecutions D N YILJI ESQ., Assistant Director Public Prosecutions P.N DAKSHAK ESQ., Assistant Director Civil Litigations. I. MANTU ESQ., Assistant Director Citizen Right/Law Reform N. J. MINER ESQ., Chief State CounselK. S. DADIREP ESQ., Senior State Counsel, Ministry of Justice, BEPCO Building, J.D Gomwalk Secretariat, Jos.
