Journalist accused of defamation gets N1m bail
A magistrate court sitting in Kano State on Tuesday granted bail to a Kano-based journalist who was accused of criminal conspiracy, defamation of character, and intentional insult against the complainant, who is the Senior Special Assistant on Political Awareness to Governor Abba Yusuf, Ana Dala.
The accused, Muktar Dahiru, a journalist with Radio Nigeria, Pyramid FM Kano, was granted bail in the sum of N1m.
Also, the court presided by Magistrate Umma Kurawa, attached conditions to the bail, which include the provision of three sureties by Dahiru, one of whom must be the Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, his wife, and another reputable individual endorsed by the Kano Hisbah Board.
Additionally, the court ordered Dahiru to refrain from posting offensive content on his social media handles that could tarnish the complainant’s reputation.
Shortly after the court session, Dahiru’s counsel, Dahiru Adam, expressed satisfaction with the bail condition.
“The court granted our client bail on an N1 million bond. The sureties must include the Chairman of the NUJ, his wife, and a reputable individual endorsed by the Hisbah commander of his area,” he said.
However, the prosecuting counsel, Safiya Yahaya, from the Ministry of Justice, did not oppose the bail application.
Yahaya acknowledged that defamation of character is a bailable offence and that the bail would likely be granted even if the prosecution objected.
She said, “We did not oppose the bail but requested certain conditions.
“One condition is that the defendant must refrain from posting anything on his social media that could be offensive to the complainant’s character until the case is concluded.”
The court also adjourned the sitting till October 2, 2024.
The alleged offences contravene Sections 97, 391 and 115 of the Kano state Penal Code Law.
Dahiru was taken to court and subsequently remanded at the Correctional Centre for sharing media content deemed critical of the state government officials, including Governor Yusuf and the reinstated Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II.
Dala explained that he brought Dahiru before the court over defamation of his character.
According to Dala, the defendant used his social media handle to address him as an adulterer and a wayward son who abandoned an 85-year-old mother hawking on the street.
Also, Dala alleged that Dahiru defamed his character by accusing him of impregnating a lady and disrespecting the Vice President, Kashim Shettima.
