👤 Uthman Muhammed, DENISAURUS News

A prominent activist who supported the candidacy of President Muhammadu Buhari in 2015, has been sentenced to seven years for defamation.

Ibrahim Garba Wala, founder of the Citizens Action to Take Back Nigeria, CATBAN, who made allegation of corruption against the chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria was sentenced without an option of a fine.

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The activist said that Abdullahi Mukhtar, chairman of the Hajj Commission made “N3 billion for himself,” but the judge who presided over the case said the claim was not backed by evidence.

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Mr Wala, popularly known as I G Wala, who made the accusation in line with the whistle blowing act introduced under the President Buhari regime, was found guilty of defamation.

Justice Yusuf Halilu of FCT High Court in Maitama said Mr Wala “failed to tender such document now that he has been dragged before a court of law?”

“Where is the document proving N3 billion made by Chairman of Hajj Commission?” he asked.

The judge also noted that the prosecutors were “able to establish the offense of making an unlawful assembly.”