*We apologize for Aminu's action, NANS to Aisha Buhari
Aminu Adamu Muhammed, the final year student of the Federal University, Dutse who was arrested for allegedly tweeting insulting comments about Nigeria’s first lady, Aisha Buhari has been remanded in prison custody.
According to the BBC Hausa, C.K Agu, Aminu's lawyer disclosed that the remand order was given on Tuesday, during his client's arraignment before a High Court in Abuja. The lawyer said, “He is currently being held in Suleja prison before the bail application is heard.”
Image:pmnewsnigeria
As said that Aminu entered a not-guilty plea on the charge brought against him, adding that they have applied unsuccessfully for Aminu to be granted bail since November, 25, pmnewsnigeria reports.
“Even in yesterday’s ( Tuesday)court session, we informed the judge that we requested the police to grant Aminu bail in time, but they did not answer us that they would release him or vice versa.
"Therefore, we requested the court to grant him bail on the grounds of ill health and that he will start school exams on December 5. And now the court has ordered the police force to present the bail request which was filed urgently so that the court can hear the request today or tomorrow,” CK Agu said.
Earlier, Aminu's parents told the BBC that their son would be brought to court on Wednesday.
Aminu's arrest sparked criticisms on social media against the First Lady and the DSS with many describing his detention as an abuse of power.
Aminu's family members have also in a BBC interview pleaded with the First Lady to forgive and release their son.
NANS' apology
In a statement on Tuesday, the president, of the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, Usman Barambu while accusing the Police of brutalizing and humiliating the student because of his post on social media, apologized to Aisha Buhari for Aminu's action.
According to the NANS president, “The leadership of NANS received with concern the news of the unlawful arrest of Mohammed by the Nigeria police on the instruction of Aisha Buhari.”
“Upon receiving the news, I, Mohammed’s family, and friends swung into action to trace the whereabouts of Mohammed. After some days of searching, we got the information that he was at the police unit in Wuse Zone 2. I met with Mohammed at the police custody.
“It was alleged that Mohammed some weeks back posted Aisha Buhari’s picture on Twitter with the caption ‘Su mama anchi kudin talakawa an koshi' (translated from Hausa to ‘the mother has gotten fatter by eating masses’ money’).
“We want to, on behalf of all the Nigerian students, tender our unreserved apology to the first lady, Aisha Buhari, for the action of Mohammed which might have caused her and her family pains.
“However, as leaders and public office holders, we must overlook some criticisms if we want to forge ahead and do the right thing.
“We demand a detailed explanation by the Nigeria police on why they will go to the school premises and ‘kidnap’ a student without due process and take him straight to the presidential villa where he was brutalized which violates his fundamental human rights.
“We call on the police as a matter of national interest and urgency to release Mohammed unconditionally or be prepared to face the Nigerian students.
NANS further cautioned students to be mindful and sensitive to the contents of their social media posts.
“However, we are calling on our teeming students to be careful and apply decorum in dealing with people, especially our leaders. They should be mindful of what they post on social media," NANS started.
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