A magistrates’ court sitting in Minna, Niger State has sentenced Gambo Adamu to 12 months in prison for deceitfully contracting a marriage between his mother-in-law, Sa’adatu Aliyu and former President Muhammadu Buhari.
In October 2019, the Presidency had to dismiss wide rumours that the then President, Muhammad Buhari was getting married to his Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, Hajia Sadiya Umar Farouq (who is not the same person as Sa’adatu Aliyu.
The speculation was inspired by the long absence of then First Lady, Aisha, who was out of the Presidential Villa since her trips to Saudi Arabia and United Kingdom.
The plaintiff, who is a divorcee, approached the court that her son-in-law extorted money from her amounting to N5 million with a promise to connect her with the then President Buhari for a marital relationship.
She told the court that her son-in-law presented to her N100,000 as bride price, a basket of kola nuts and fried chicken in a bag as gifts from Buhari during the wedding fatiha.
She said that after waiting to see the former President coming to pick her as his new wife, she decided to approach the court for intervention.
She added that the convict also asked her to set up a Non-Governmental Organisation with her as chairperson while he (Adamu) would serve as the spokesman, promising her that she would get benefits from the federal and state governments, in addition to allocation of slots for Hajj.
The Magistrate, Ibrahim Musa Zago sentenced the defendant to 12 months in prison for cheating, contrary to Section 322 of the Penal Code, with an option of N100,000 fine.
He also ordered the defendant to pay N2 million as compensation to the complainant.
