Disquiet as Court orders detention of former Commissioner, Muazu Magaji, in Kano

There was disquiet in Kano State as the trial of a former Commissioner in the state resume at a magistrate court over defamation of character and threat to public peace. Several youths stormed the vicinity of the court, protesting in solidarity of the commissioner who they claimed is facing political persecution.

The protest did not, however, stop the magistrate court in Nomansland, Kano, from issuing an interim order for the remand of the former Commissioner for Works, Muazu Magaji, at the Kurmawa Correctional Centre, adjacent to the palace of the Emir of Kano.

The Magistrate, Aminu Gabari, ordered that the Commissioner should be remanded at the Correctional Centre, but granted permission to his physicians to visit him for necessary medical service.

Magistrate Gambari also directed the Prosecuting Counsel and the Defending Counsel to make their briefs at the adjourned date. The court, then, adjourned sitting to February 3, 2022.

The police First Information Report (FIR) had brought charges of defamation of character, injurious falsehood, attempt to disrupt public peace, etc., against the detained commissioner.

The commissioner was earlier arrested by the police, and later arraigned at the magistrate court.