Mediaage NG News – KANO, Nigeria
One of Nigeria’s most popular actresses, Amal Umar has been arrested for allegedly trying to bribe a police officer in Kano state.
Police say she gave an officer 250,000 naira (£137; $175) to have her impounded car released. Her car was seized over a year ago on suspicion it was purchased from the proceeds of fraud, allegedly committed by her boyfriend.
Her lawyer Adama Usman says she denies the charges, saying it was a police officer who first asked for money.
“She gave our officer 250,000 [naira] with a promise to bring more money”, the Nigerian Police spokesman in Kano, Bashir Muhammad said, while speaking with the BBC.
“This is simply a case of abuse of her rights. We won the initial case in court where they were trying to link her with her boyfriend’s activities which she has no hands in”, her lawyer said, reacting to the allegations.
“But the police are yet to obey court orders four months in by still holding on to her car.
“On this case of attempted bribery they are claiming, we are going to pursue it to the end because she was called to come and collect her car only for things to change,” the lawyer said.
She said they would continue to fight the case in court as she thinks the Fuska Biyu star was coerced.
The actress has appeared in hundreds of movies over the past decade, is also well known in neighbouring countries.
Amal, as she is known by fans of Kano’s film industry, Kannywood, has millions of followers on social media.
The 24 year old actress has been freed on bail.
Police say Amal’s boyfriend Ramadan Inuwa is wanted on charges of obtaining money by false pretences and is still at large.
He has not commented on the accusations.