Cyber Crime Case: Court dismisses Mahadi Shehu’s photocopy memos as exhibit
By Faith Awa Maji, Katsina
A Federal High Court sitting in Kano on Monday rejected some documents seeking to be tendered as exhibits by the defence counsel in a case of cyber crime instituted against a Kaduna-based businessman, Mahadi Shehu, by the Inspector-General of police.
The court dismissed photocopies of memos when during cross examination, the prosecution first witness (PW1) who is also a former Secretary to the Government of Katsina State, Dr. Mustapha Muhammad Inuwa, questioned the genuineness of the signatures on the papers which the defence counsel claimed to be his own during cross-examination.
Inuwa argued that he could not ascertain the genuineness of the documents unless he sees the original copies.
He therefore disassociated himself from all the documents presented to him by the defence counsel while on the cross-examination.
The court also rejected a letter-head paper of a private company with Inuwa as a director of the company which the presiding Judge, Justice A.M Liman, contended lacked merit and irrelevant to the matter before the court.
The Judge equally cautioned the defence counsel, A.I Abubakar, to stick to the rules of the court as all the documents sought to be tendered by the defence were inadmissible.
He declared that for the court to admit any public documents as exhibit, they must be certified true copies.
However, as the PW2, Abdullahi Aliyu Yar’Adua who is also the Director Press, office of the Secretary to the Government of Katsina State, was affirmed and asked to tell the court his full name, one of the Mahadi’s lawyers raised objection on taking his evidence.
He argued that he was just that morning served with additional document (transcribed and translated documents on the alleged episode of Mahadi’s Radio programme and was not given the copies of the CDs which the prosecution intended to tender through the witness.
He therefore stressed the need for them to be given time to study the documents and the prosecution to properly serve them with the said CDs.
In that circumstances, the prosecution requested for another date which the Judge granted and adjourned the case to 25th and 26th January, 2023 for continuation of hearing.
The Katsina State Government through the Inspector- General of Police had arraigned Mahadi Shehu for alleged forgery, incitement and disparaging the government and its officials through the use of media including various internet platforms.
In that circumstances, the prosecution requested for another date which the Judge granted and adjourned the case to 25th and 26th January, 2023 for continuation of hearing.
The Katsina State Government through the Inspector- General of Police had arraigned Mahadi Shehu for alleged forgery, incitement and disparaging the government and its officials through the use of media including various internet platforms.Follow me on:
