By IBRAHIM BELLO

An Upper Shari’a Court III, Takalau, Birnin Kebbi, on Friday convicted and remanded a man after he pleaded guilty to criminal charges.

The convict Identified as Salim Abubakar, also known as “Shekare,” admitted to forgery, defamation, and causing a breach of public peace.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Abubakar, who hails from Illela area of Kalgo Local Government Area, was arraigned before the court presided over by Kadi Samaila Alhaji-Noma.

The case followed a petition by the Kebbi Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Dr. Abba Sani-Kalgo, requesting the police to investigate the alleged conduct of the accused.

According to the charge read before the court, the offences contravened Sections 373, 374, 348, and 79(1) of the Kebbi Penal Code Law, 2021.

The prosecuting officer, Cpl. Faruk Abdullahi, told the court that the accused allegedly created and published a political graphic on his Facebook account bearing the commissioner’s name and photograph alongside the logo of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

He said the publication allegedly created the impression that Sani-Kalgo belonged to the ADC.

The prosecutor further alleged that the accused uploaded the material on his personal Facebook page and subsequently circulated it across other social media platforms.

When the charges were read to him, Abubakar pleaded guilty to all the counts.

Following a plea, the court convicted him accordingly.

Alhaji-Noma said: “Having found you, Salim Abubakar, guilty of all the charges brought against you, you are hereby convicted accordingly.”

NAN reports that Mudashiru Sale appeared for the complainant in a watching-brief capacity.

Following the conviction, the prosecution applied for an adjournment to enable it to prepare its submissions on the appropriate sentence.

“We submit that the accused has pleaded guilty and has been convicted. We, therefore, apply that judgment be reserved for two weeks to enable us to address the court on sentencing,” the prosecutor told the court.

Sale supported the application, saying the complainant was not ready to proceed with sentencing on Friday.

“We are not ready for judgment today. We pray the court to grant an adjournment so we can make our submissions on the appropriate sentence,” he pleaded.

In his ruling, Alhaji-Noma granted the application, saying the adjournment would enable the prosecution to prepare adequately and allow the court to deliver a well-considered judgment.

“The court, pursuant to Section 305 of the Kebbi Administration of Criminal Justice Law, 2021, hereby reserves judgment.

“This will afford the prosecution adequate time to prepare and also allow the court to deliver a well-considered judgment,” he said.

The judge adjourned the matter until Sept. 18, for judgment.

He further ordered that the convict be remanded in a correctional facility pending the date of judgment. (NAN)