False Claim of French Military Deployment: Court Remands Mahadi Shehu in Kaduna Prison

A Kaduna chief magistrate court has ruled that Shehu Mahdi, a public affairs and political analyst, be remanded in a correctional facility.

The Department of State Services (DSS) arrested Madhi in Kaduna over the weekend after he posted inflammatory content online, including a video stating that President Bola Tinubu granted France permission to establish a military camp in northern Nigeria.

Nuhu Ribadu, the national security adviser (NSA), and Mohammed Idris, minister of information and national orientation, have since debunked the claims as baseless.

The DSS presented Mahdi before the presiding magistrate, Abubakar Lamido, on a two-count charge of conspiracy, aiding, and abetting terrorism.

The offences are said to be contrary to section 26(2)(3) of the Terrorism (Prevention & Prohibition) Act, 2022, and inciting public disturbances is contrary to section 78 of the Penal Code Law of Kaduna state, 2017.

“In his ruling, Magistrate Lamido held that Mahdi remains in a correctional facility in Kaduna until January 14, 2025, for further hearing on the matter,” a statement by DSS said.