Nigeria Facebook 'Curse' On Local Governor Ends In Jailing

Said to have traumatized a state governor so badly he required hospitalization, a Nigerian man's politically-charged Facebook rants have landed him in jail.

According to the AFP, 24-year-old Mukhtar Ibrahim Aminu posted a since-removed message on his own Facebook page on Jan. 9 which insulted governor Sule Lamido over the politician's support for President Goodluck Jonathan in the lead up to the national elections in April. The Guardian reports that Aminu was arrested in the northern state of Jigawa for being a public nuisance. He was held in prison for several days before being formally charged with defamation and sent back to jail pending trial.

"Allah curse Sule Lamido and all his useless friends," the posting, which has since been removed, is quoted as saying. "Allah make Sule Lamido and his friend useless." While Lamido's reaction seems extreme such curses are said to carry tremendous importance in Nigeria, with some believing the curses can damage them for life.

The governor's spokesman, Umar Kyari, denied there were political reasons for Aminu's arrest."What happened to Mukhtar Ibrahim Aminu was entirely a police affair, who felt that the governor was defamed and the accused needed to be prosecuted for the gravity of the uncouth message he posted," Kyari said. "This story is not between the governor and the boy per se...it is left to the legal system to either free or detain him."

Aminu's arrest came despite laws protecting freedom of speech. According to the AP, even though newspapers do publish critical columns on politicians, bribes paid to journalists help control coverage in Africa's most populous nation, and those who don't fall in line often face threats and beatings.