The Department of State Services (DSS) has filed five counts of terrorism-related charges against a public affairs commentator Mahdi Shehu at the Federal High Court in Kaduna.
The DSS had a day earlier filed a motion exparte before the same court for an order to detain Shehu for 60 days. The motion is pursuant to Section 66 of the Terrorism (Prevention & Prohibition) Act, 2022,
Justice Rilwan Aikawa, who granted the order, held that the DSS could keep Shehu for 60 days to enable their officers conclude investigations.
The counts against Shehu are:
(i) False Publication to cause public alarm contrary to Section 59 (1) of the Criminal Code Act;
ii. Dissemination of Terrorism related false information contrary to Section 26 (2) (a) and (b) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022;
iii. Intentional dissemination of false information contrary to Section 24(1) (b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition and Prevention etc.) Act, 2024 (as amended);
iv. False allegation of Treasonable Act contrary yo Section 41 of the Criminal Code Act; and
v. Use of Social Media to support false allegations of National Security Threat, contrary to Section 24(1) (b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Act.
Dateline Nigeria reports that the DSS recently arrested Shehu shortly after he shared fake videos claiming that the Nigerian government had granted France permission to set up a military base in the North.
