A Katsina resident, Aminu Sanda, popularly known as Nesta, has been detained and charged with treasonable felony over allegations that he destroyed campaign billboards belonging to President Bola Tinubu.
Sanda was first invited by the police in Katsina State before being detained over claims that he pulled down Tinubu’s billboards and broke into the Katsina State Secretariat of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Police also accused him of stealing N35 million from the APC office.
However, Sanda has denied all the allegations, saying he had nothing to do with the destruction of the billboards or the alleged theft.
“How can I, being the state chairman of Dikko/Tinubu Vanguard, a political support group for the President, turn around to pull down his billboards? It does not make sense,” Sanda was quoted as saying.
He has continued to maintain that the allegations against him are false and that he was not involved in any of the offences.
His lawyers have also questioned the case, arguing that such serious allegations must be backed by credible evidence and established through proper legal procedures.
They said their client should not be kept in prolonged detention while the police continue their investigation.
Sanda was later transferred to the Force Headquarters in Abuja before being remanded by a Magistrate Court in Jiwa, Federal Capital Territory.
The police had earlier asked the court, through a motion ex parte, to remand him for two weeks to allow them to investigate the allegations.
When his lawyers appeared in court on Tuesday to request his bail, the police also filed a fresh application seeking another two-week extension of his detention, saying they needed more time to complete their investigation.
The development has raised concerns among Sanda’s lawyers, particularly after the magistrate, Huzaifa Macchudo, reserved ruling on the bail application.
According to his legal team, the decision could give the police an opportunity to seek a further extension of his detention while he remains in custody.
The court has adjourned the case until September 15 to rule on Sanda’s bail application.
Man charged with treasonable felony over alleged destruction of Tinubu billboards