Badaru’s aide remanded in prison for exposing substandard multi-billion naira projects

The Jigawa governor’s media aide, Malam Habibu Muhammad Ringim, has been remanded in prison for allegedly exposing substandard road projects by a popular contractor in the state.

Reports from the state indicated that the special assistant to the Jigawa state governor, Alhaji Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, on media content development, Malam Habibu Muhammad Ringim, exposed the contractor for executing the substandard road projects in the state. 

Online Tribune reports that Malam Habibu Muhammad is being detained in prison following a radio program he did accusing a contractor of executing substandard road projects in the state. 

Speaking to reporters, the dependent counsel, Barrister Abdullahi Yelleman, said his client was in prison for failing to meet the stringent bail conditions set by the judge.

Mr. Yelleman said his client had honored the police invitation at Kano Zone 1, only for him to be driven to court and summarily sent to prison even without charges in the initial stage.

“My client was arrested following a radio program on some road projects executed by Mr. Gerawa’s company, where he alleged that they are substandard; specific among them is the one from Balago to Kafin-Hausa. 

It had been gathered that magistrate Mustapha Datti sent Malam Habibu Muhammad to prison after the police filed charges against him in a complaint filed by the contractor, Isah Gerawa, on January 30 upon his arrest by the police.

He was charged with defamation of character and intimidation on February 2. He, however, pleaded not guilty.

The media aide, Mr. Muhammad, is being featured on weekly paid radio programs on the Jigawa state government-owned radio station, propagating the achievements of governor Badaru as well as lashing out at the opponents of his principal.

Barrister Abdullahi Yallenlman maintained that “the program did not go down well with Mr. Gerawa,” upon which he filed a complaint at the police command in Dutse, which prompted the case. 

“We are hoping to meet the bail condition any moment from today, Thursday,” the lawyer said.