NAIJ NEWS ALERT

LECTURER DETAINED FOR FACEBOOK COMMENTS

Dr. John Danfulani, a lecturer with the Kaduna state University has been arraigned before  a Chief Magistrate Court 1, Kaduna for allegedly inciteful and hateful comments of the social medium; Facebook.

The arraignment followed his detention by the Police in the state for the allegation of statements capable of causing breakdown of law and order in Northern Nigeria and other parts of the country which is contrary to Section 417 and 418 of the Penal code of Northern Nigeria.

The Presiding Magistrate, Alhaji Awwal Musa, in addressing the case, stated that the Police was empowered to protect, investigate and carry out the duty assigned to them hence; the court cannot deny them their power.

The Magistrate ordered for the remand of Dr. John Danfulani in police custody as the police were yet to conclude their investigations but further stated that the police investigations must be concluded latest by Monday, 1^st February 2016.

Appealing for bail, Barrister Gamaliel Kore, leading six other defending counsels for the accused person, told the Court that, the offence was a bailable one and, as a responsible lecturer, would not jump bail.

Barrister Kore informed the Court that the accused had, following an invitation by the police, voluntarily honoured the invitation even though he was out of the country as at the time he was invited and that if granted bail, will be available for trial.

John Danfulani, a known critic of government, was a thorn in the flesh of the past administration of Governor Mukhtar Ramalan Yero of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and had been known to have joined forces with the APC candidate in the build up to the gubernatorial elections in May, 2015 that saw to the ouster of that administration.

The Prosecuting Officer had however prayed that the Court should not grant the accused bail but should be remanded in Police custody for three weeks to allow for full investigations into the matter without any interference.  

The relationship between Dr. John Danfulani and the Governor became strained following yet to be known disagreements.

His detention and trial has however attracted serious condemnation within and outside the state, from concerned stakeholders and friends of the lecturer, warning that the arrest and detention would only end up making a hero him.