Former guber candidate spends over a month in jail for insulting Adamawa Governor

An Adamawa State based politician identified as Lawan Uba has been granted bail after being in court-ordered detention for more than a month for allegedly insulting Governor Ahmadu Fintiri.
The bail was granted by the Chief Magistrate Court 4, Yola, before which Lawan was arraigned.

Lawan, a 2019 governorship candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC) in Adamawa State, is standing trial for allegedly accusing Governor Fintiri of turning his back on people who helped him to power.

Lawan was admitted to bail on Tuesday, after 42 days at a correctional centre, by Chief Magistrate Aminu Abdulkadir Maiha, following an application by his Counsel, R. M. Agav.

Ruling on the bail application, the judge declared that Lawan would have his freedom for now if he would provide one prominent politician who resides within the jurisdiction of the court as a reliable surety.

The Magistrate also mandated the defendant to sign a bond to be of good behaviour throughout the trial.

The Magistrate explained that Lawan was being admitted to bail in line with the provision of sections 36(5), 159 and 163 of the 1999 Constitution as well as ACJL.

Lawan, through his counsel, had earlier urged the court to grant him bail because the offence he was accused of is bailable in nature.

The defendant was charged with the alleged offence of sharing a video in which he accused Governor Fintiri of being an ingrate who has not done any good for people who worked for his emergence as governor in 2019.