Sharia Court convicts man for forgery, defamation in Kebbi
By Yusuf Gwandu
An Upper Shari’a Court 3, Takalau, Birnin Kebbi, on Friday convicted Salim Abubakar, popularly known as Shekare, after he pleaded guilty to charges of forgery, defamation of character and causing a breach of public peace.
Abubakar, who hails from Illela area of Kalgo Local Government Area of Kebbi State, was arraigned before the court presided over by Justice Samaila Alhaji-Noma.
The case followed a petition by the Kebbi State Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Dr. Abba Sani-Kalgo, requesting the police to investigate the alleged conduct of the accused.
According to the charge read before the court, the offences contravened Sections 373, 374, 348 and 79(1) of the Kebbi State Penal Code Law, 2021.
The prosecuting officer, Cpl. Faruk Abdullahi, told the court that the accused allegedly created and published a political graphic on his Facebook account bearing the commissioner’s name and photograph alongside the logo of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
He said the publication allegedly created the impression that Sani-Kalgo was a member of the ADC.
The prosecutor further alleged that the accused uploaded the material on his personal Facebook page and subsequently circulated it across other social media platforms.
When the charges were read to him, Abubakar pleaded guilty to all the counts.
Following his plea, the court convicted him accordingly.
The judge said: “Having found you, Salim Abubakar, guilty of all the charges brought against you, you are hereby convicted. The court will decide your sentencing on September 18, 2026.”
The judge consequently ordered that Abubakar be remanded in correctional custody pending the sentencing date.
