Jos, Plateau State – The trial of Mr. Samuel Bature, accused of defaming Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang, continued at High Court No. 8 in Jos, with the prosecution presenting its first witness.
During the hearing, the prosecution, led by E.H. Williams, informed the court that they had filed a motion to call additional witnesses. However, the defense counsel, H.M. Dashe, noted that they had only received the motion the previous Friday.
Despite this, the court permitted the prosecution to present its first witness, Inspector Lawan Kasim of the Plateau State Police Criminal Investigation Department (CID).
In his testimony, Inspector Kasim recounted that during an interrogation at the State CID, Mr. Bature admitted that the defamatory material against Governor Mutfwang had been provided by two political associates, Tungzum Barde and David Daser. According to Kasim, Bature said he posted the content on social media after receiving it from the pair.
Defense counsel H.M. Dashe objected to the witness’s testimony, arguing that Bature’s initial statement had been made under duress and that his second statement was not given voluntarily.
The case was adjourned until November 13 for further hearings.