Umar Sarki and Lawal Mai Mai are currently standing trial before a Magistrate’s Court in Kaduna over allegations of making defamatory and inflammatory statements against Senator Lawal Adamu Usman, who represents the Kaduna Senatorial District in the 10th National Assembly.
The senator initiated legal action against the duo, accusing them of defamation, false accusations, and making harmful statements that damaged his reputation.
According to the charge sheet, a copy of which was obtained by Daily trust, the defendants allegedly made and broadcast false statements in Hausa through a radio station, causing harm to the senator’s reputation.
The charge sheet specifically alleges that the first defendant, Lawal Mai Mai, accused Senator Usman of aligning with political interests opposed to his party, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
The statement, translated from Hausa into English, reads:
“He has aligned himself with Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s interests. In fact, he has become a spy for the president and engaged in anti-party activities in the Senate by facilitating the election of Godswill Akpabio as Senate President.
“We accuse him of conspiring against the Northern Senators’ Forum and PDP Senators. Whenever they meet to restore the dignity of the North, he reports details of the meetings to Akpabio, who in turn reports to Tinubu.”
The charge sheet also implicated a third party, Nagarta Radio, for broadcasting the defamatory statements, which allegedly amplified the false claims and further tarnished the senator’s image.
However, the court has since struck out Nagarta Radio’s name from the case.
The trial judge, Justice Agatha Goni, granted bail to the first and second defendants in the sum of N500,000 each, following an application from their legal counsel.
The case has been adjourned to March 4, 2025, for further hearing.