ADVERTISEMENT
  • The Membership Club
  • PT Hausa
  • About Us
  • Advert Rates
  • Careers
  • Contact Us
Friday, February 26, 2021
Premium Times Nigeria
  • Home
  • COVID-19
  • News
    • Headline Stories
    • Top News
    • More News
    • Foreign
  • Investigations
  • Business
    • News Reports
    • Financial Inclusion
    • Analysis and Data
    • Business Specials
    • Opinion
    • Oil/Gas Reports
      • FAAC Reports
      • Revenue
  • Opinion
  • Health
    • News Reports
    • Investigations
    • Data and Infographics
    • Health Specials
    • Features
    • Events
    • Primary Health Tracker
  • Agriculture
    • News Report
    • Research & Innovation
    • Data & Infographics
    • Special Reports/Features
    • Investigations
    • Interviews
    • Markets
  • Arts/Life
    • Arts/Books
    • Kannywood
    • Lifestyle
    • Music
    • Nollywood
    • Travel
  • Sports
    • Football
    • More Sports News
    • Sports Features
  • Projects
    • Parliament Watch
    • Panama Papers
    • Paradise Papers
    • AGAHRIN
  • Home
  • COVID-19
  • News
    • Headline Stories
    • Top News
    • More News
    • Foreign
  • Investigations
  • Business
    • News Reports
    • Financial Inclusion
    • Analysis and Data
    • Business Specials
    • Opinion
    • Oil/Gas Reports
      • FAAC Reports
      • Revenue
  • Opinion
  • Health
    • News Reports
    • Investigations
    • Data and Infographics
    • Health Specials
    • Features
    • Events
    • Primary Health Tracker
  • Agriculture
    • News Report
    • Research & Innovation
    • Data & Infographics
    • Special Reports/Features
    • Investigations
    • Interviews
    • Markets
  • Arts/Life
    • Arts/Books
    • Kannywood
    • Lifestyle
    • Music
    • Nollywood
    • Travel
  • Sports
    • Football
    • More Sports News
    • Sports Features
  • Projects
    • Parliament Watch
    • Panama Papers
    • Paradise Papers
    • AGAHRIN
Premium Times Nigeria
BUA Group Ad BUA Group Ad BUA Group Ad
ADVERTISEMENT
Abubakar Katcha

Abubakar Katcha

Police charge APC chieftain for ‘abusing governor on social media’

bySamuel Ogundipe
December 4, 2019
2 min read

A Nigerian politician has been charged by the police in Niger State with criminal conspiracy after lashing out at the state governor for alleged corruption and neglect of local roads.

Abubakar Katcha was arraigned before the Chief Magistrate’s Court in Minna, central Nigeria, on Wednesday afternoon.

He was granted N500,000 bail after spending one night in police custody following a petition from Governor Sani Bello’s chief of staff, Ibrahim Balarabe.

In a first information complaint filed against Mr Katcha by the police and obtained by PREMIUM TIMES, the politician was accused of conspiring with another man to post statements on social media that could “incite public interest” in the affairs of the state.

The police said Mr Katcha accused the governor of “fraudulently diverting public funds to himself and his family.”

“And also that Niger State Government is unable to repair state roads with the state,” the charge further read.

The police said the offences contradicted sections 97(2), 397, 393 and 114 of penal codes.

Hauwa Yusuf, the magistrate, granted Mr Katcha bail and adjourned the matter till December 17.

Mary Berje, the spokesperson for the governor, told PREMIUM TIMES she could not comment on Mr Katcha’s arrest because she had no first-hand information about it.

RelatedNews

Before losing South African citizenship, Nigerian professor suspended for misconduct, school says

NPFL: Adamawa United end 15-match winless streak

Court orders Ekiti State University to reinstate 85 sacked workers

Grieving parents recall last moments with children killed in Maiduguri multiple bombings

A spokesperson for the police in Niger did not answer multiple calls seeking comments Wednesday afternoon.

Mr Katcha has been involved in Niger politics for several years.

Between August 2009 and late 2010, he served as the commissioner for science and technology and later commissioner for special duties under former Governor Babangida Aliyu.

Dangote adbanner 728x90_2 (1)

Incumbent Governor Bello was a member of the cabinet at the time as the commissioner for investment.

Abubakar Katcha Clean
Abubakar Katcha Clean1

Mr Katcha was appointed as a member of the National Film and Video Censors Board by President Muhammadu Buhari in February 2018 and has remained in that role ever since.

He described himself as the latest victim of an ongoing crackdown on free speech across the country.

Nationwide Crackdown

In recent months, many Nigerians have been arrested and charged for posting commentaries on social media or writing newspaper articles.

Federal authorities have declined to backpedal on the controversial arrests despite widespread criticism of the government’s tactics. Critics said comments similar to what Mr Katcha was charged for are protected by the Constitution and any attempt to criminalise them would be a violation of the law.

ADVERTISEMENT

Since 2015, federal lawmakers have attempted to regulate speech, especially on social media.

In recent weeks, two controversial bills have been proposed to regulate social media use and curb hate speech in the country, but both have been met with stiff opposition from a large proportion of Nigerians.

  • WhatsApp
  • Tweet
  • Email
  • Print
  • Telegram
  • More
  • Share on Tumblr
  • Pocket

Support PREMIUM TIMES' journalism of integrity and credibility

Good journalism costs a lot of money. Yet only good journalism can ensure the possibility of a good society, an accountable democracy, and a transparent government.

For continued free access to the best investigative journalism in the country we ask you to consider making a modest support to this noble endeavour.

By contributing to PREMIUM TIMES, you are helping to sustain a journalism of relevance and ensuring it remains free and available to all.

Donate


TEXT AD: To advertise here . Call Willie +2347088095401...


JOIN THE CONVERSATION

  • Disqus (11)
premiumtimes



PT Mag Campaign AD

Previous Post

Nigerian lawmakers call for national census by 2020

Next Post

Suit seeking third term for Buhari, governors withdrawn

Samuel Ogundipe

Samuel Ogundipe

Samuel Ogundipe is a general assignment reporter at PREMIUM TIMES. At various times, he has covered the Presidency, National Assembly and Defence. Twitter: @SamuelOgundipe

More News

Abubakar Malami [Photo: The Guardian]

Justice ministry has become ‘revenue-generating entity’ under Malami – Official

February 25, 2021
Dubawa

Dubawa sends forth 2020 fact-checking fellows

February 25, 2021
Mr Ijeoma’s school said he had been suspended for alleged misconduct before he was expelled from South Africa. Credit: Mr Ijeoma’s Facebook Page

Before losing South African citizenship, Nigerian professor suspended for misconduct, school says

February 25, 2021
Nigerian Army fighting Boko Haram

EXCLUSIVE: Untold story of how Nigerian troops crushed Boko Haram to retake Borno town

February 25, 2021
President Muhammadu Buhari [Photo: © Presidency]

Insecurity: Buhari rules out amnesty for bandits, terrorists

February 25, 2021
Itse Sagay

New EFCC Chair: Malami may not allow Bawa operate independently -Sagay

February 25, 2021
Next Post
President Muhammadu Buhari [Photo: © Presidency]

Suit seeking third term for Buhari, governors withdrawn

LAUTECH

ASUU suspends lecture boycott in LAUTECH to 'honour' governor

Discussion about this post

Search

#EndSARS: Latest Updates




Polaris Bank


JAIZ Ad


NITDA Ad





Glo Ad

Subscribe to News via Email

Enter your email address and receive notifications of news by email.

Join 1,624,822 other subscribers.

Advertisement






netherland biz school Advert

Zenith Advert
ADVERTISEMENT

Our Digital Network

  • PT Hausa
  • Election Centre
  • Human Trafficking Investigation
  • Centre for Investigative Journalism
  • National Conference
  • Press Attack Tracker
  • PT Academy
  • Dubawa
  • LeaksNG
  • Campus Reporter

Resources

  • Oil & Gas Facts
  • List of Universities in Nigeria
  • LIST: Federal Unity Colleges in Nigeria
  • NYSC Orientation Camps in Nigeria
  • Nigeria’s Federal/States’ Budgets since 2005
  • Malabu Scandal Thread
  • World Cup 2018
  • Panama Papers Game
  • Our Digital Network
  • About Us
  • Resources
  • Projects
  • Data & Infographics
  • DONATE

All content is Copyrighted © 2020 The Premium Times, Nigeria

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • COVID-19
  • News
    • Headline Stories
    • Top News
    • More News
    • Foreign
  • Investigations
  • Business
    • News Reports
    • Financial Inclusion
    • Analysis and Data
    • Business Specials
    • Opinion
    • Oil/Gas Reports
      • FAAC Reports
      • Revenue
  • Health
    • News Reports
    • Investigations
    • Data and Infographics
    • Health Specials
    • Features
    • Events
    • Primary Health Tracker
  • Agriculture
    • News Report
    • Research & Innovation
    • Data & Infographics
    • Special Reports/Features
    • Investigations
    • Interviews
    • Markets
  • Arts/Life
    • Arts/Books
    • Kannywood
    • Lifestyle
    • Music
    • Nollywood
    • Travel
  • Sports
    • Football
    • More Sports News
    • Sports Features
  • Projects
    • Panama Papers
    • Paradise Papers
    • Parliament Watch
    • AGAHRIN
  • Opinion
  • PT Hausa
  • The Membership Club
  • Dubawa
    • Dubawa NG
  • About Us
  • Advert Rates
  • Careers
  • Contact Us
  • Digital Store
  • DONATE

All content is Copyrighted © 2020 The Premium Times, Nigeria

Our website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.
loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.