A Wuse Zone 2 Magistrates’ Court in Abuja on Wednesday discharged Ameerah Safiyan with conditions for falsely claiming she was kidnapped.
The police charged Safiyan, 23, of Apo Resettlement Abuja, with giving false information with intent to mislead public servants. She pleaded guilty to the charge.
Magistrate Chukwuemeka Nweke, in his ruling, held that he discharged her in line with the provisions of Section 454 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015.
He said, ”Going by the probation report that she was not in a proper mental state of mind when she committed the offence, she is hereby discharged with some conditions.
”The defendant must be on probation for a period of 12 calendar months.
“Secondly the defendant would be released to one surety and assigned to a probation officer, DCP Hauwa Ibrahim, to monitor her.
“Thirdly, she must report monthly to the Police Headquarters, Abuja for proper assessment.”
The court heard that on June 14 Safiyan raised false alarm via her Twitter handle, @Ameerah-Sufiyan, WhatsApp chat and voice broadcast.
The prosecution said that Safiyan sent out false information through her social media handles to the complainant, the whole family and the general public, that she was in the hands of armed men in police uniform.
The court also heard that the defendant alleged that the kidnappers headed towards the forest through Jos and Nasarawa State highway.
The prosecution added that during police investigation, the defendant was traced to Marigold Hospital Critical Care Centre, Surulere in Lagos.
Safiyan has since apologised for her actions.
