Sultan remanded for Instagram fraud

A 20-year-old student, Sultan Bello, was on Wednesday remanded in prison custody by a Kano Senior Magistrates’ Court for impersonating the Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II.

The accused, who resides at Ja’oji New Court Road Quarters, Kano, is facing three counts of impersonation, cheating and defamation of character.

The Senior Magistrate, Hassan Ahmad, ordered the remand of the accused and adjourned the case until March 26for summary trial, NAN reported.

The accused had pleaded guilty to the charge.

Earlier, the prosecutor, Inspector Haziel Ledapwa, told the court that the accused committed the offences on February 27.

Ledapwa said the defendant operated an Instagram page and dubiously posted himself as the Emir of Kano.

“The accused also demanded N1.4m from one Barka Sani; N150,000 from Sadiq Saflan; N50,000 from Sadiq Sani; N50,000 from Aisha Ahmad; N50,000 from Surajo Zakari; and N150,000 from Yahaya, totaling N1.85m.

He also told the court that the accused demanded the money on the pretext that one Hausa film actress, Zubaida Mu’azu, sang a song for him as the Emir of Kano.

“The accused requested the complainants to pay the said amount into the actress’ First Bank account number 3049986447,” he said.

According to the prosecutor, the offences contravene sections 132, 322 and 392 of the penal code.