The Kano State Division of the Federal High Court presided over by Justice Lewis Ambrose Alaagoa has granted bail to the Katsina Whistleblower, Mahadi Shehu, in the sum of 10 million naira bail bond.
Shehu is also expected to produce one surety with landed property in Kano otherwise risks being detained in the Kano Correctional Center.
The lead prosecution counsel, Barrister Simon Lough disclosed this to journalists shortly after the court sitting on Thursday.
Barrister Lough noted that the defendant is being charged with cybercrime and was allegedly making several publications on his Facebook account and granted an interview with Television and radio stations where he accused the sitting governor and people of Katsina State of embezzling the public funds.
His allegations were later found to be false after investigation.
He revealed that the defendant was asked to produce documents to back up his allegations and was unable to produce any which led to his arraignment.
Meanwhile, the lead Defense Counsel Barrister Habib Abubakar declined to comment regarding the case.
Mr. Shehu is being arraigned by the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) on behalf of the state government.
He was arrested on February 16, 2021, by the police but got released on bail and was reportedly transferred to the custody of the Katsina police on March 8, 2021.
The Katsina Division of the Federal High Court presiding over by Justice Hadiza Shagari, ordered his continuous detention until Friday, 12th March 2021.
Last week, the presiding judge of the court, Justice Hadiza Shagari however announced the transfer of the case to the Kano Federal High Court for the continuation of the trial and hearing of the bail application filed by the defence counsel.
Meanwhile, the defendant has another court case before the Shari’a Court of Appeal in Dutsin-ma Local Government Area of Katsina State where the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Mustapha Inuwa dragged him for alleged character defamation.
The hearing of his case been adjourned till May 19th, 2021.