A magistrate court in Kano has ordered the remand of Muktar Dahiru, a journalist with Pyramid FM Kano, for allegedly posting content on Facebook that was deemed insulting to the Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf.
Dahiru, who was arrested on Thursday, is facing charges of criminal conspiracy, defamation of character, and intentional insult.
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The arrest followed a Facebook post by the journalist Dahiru in which he shared an audio interview featuring an opposition politician accusing Governor Yusuf of corruption. In the audio, the politician called for federal anti-corruption agencies to investigate a scandal involving Novomed Pharmaceuticals, rather than relying on the Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission (PCCAC).
The post was made in the context of a recent investigation by the Kano anti-corruption agency, which led to the arrest of five individuals, including Garba Kwankwaso, a nephew of former Kano Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso, in connection with an alleged multi-billion-naira drug purchase scam. Garba, the managing director of Novomed Pharmaceuticals, was accused of violating public procurement laws by conspiring to secure a contract for the supply of drugs to local government areas in the state.
In addition to the Facebook post about the governor, Dahiru was also reported to have shared an audio program in which a speaker criticized the reinstated Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi, accusing him of living an opulent lifestyle while presenting himself as sympathetic to the poor.
According to Premium Times, Dahiru was secretly arraigned on Friday before Magistrate Court 24 in Gyadi Gyadi, Kano. The journalist appeared before the presiding magistrate, Ummah Kurawa, who ordered his remand in a correctional facility until the hearing of his bail application, scheduled for September 3.
