Amnesty International Calls On Gov Aliyu To Release Tambuwal’s Aide

Amnesty International (AI) has called on the Governor of Sokoto State, Ahmed Aliyu, to release the Special Adviser on Media to Aminu Tambuwal, Shafi’u Umar Tureta.

Naija News reported that Umar Tureta was arrested by police allegedly on the orders of Governor Aliyu for sharing a video that captured the Governor stuttering in spoken English at a public function and spraying naira notes during public function.

The Governor of Sokoto allegedly ordered the arrest of Tureta on Sunday. The Governor’s office and Sokoto State Police Command have yet to speak on the arrest. Also, the former governor, Aminu Tambuwal, who also is the Sokoto North District senator has yet to speak on the arrest.

“Sokoto State government must immediately and unconditionally release Shafi’u Umar Tureta — a social media critic who was arrested by heavily armed police on the unlawful order of the governor, for posting a viral video of the lavish birthday party of the governor’s wife,” AI said in a brief statement on its X handle on Monday.

Recall that a Nigerian socialite, Okuneye Idris Olanrewaju, popularly known as Bobrisky, was charged and convicted for abusing the naira.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) also warned that spraying naira notes constitutes an abuse of the currency.

Though Governor Aliyu enjoys immunity from prosecution while in office, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Sokoto Chapter, had called on Aliyu to release Tureta and his his camera and media team responsible for the leaked videos.