Lecturer at Kaduna State University (KASU), Dr. John Danfulani, who was arrested for his comments about President Muhammadu Buhari on Facebook has been denied bail and remanded in prison.
Chief magistrate Court 1, Kaduna, has denied Dr. Danfulani bail after being detained by the police for over 24 hours.
Danfulani is being accused of inciting and hateful statements on Facebook against the people of northern Nigeria, thereby, capable of causing breakdown of law and order in northern Nigeria and other parts of the country.
Part of his Facebook post said, “To them, APC is a religious party. Northern leaders under the party are demigods and crusaders of their ways of life. These people living in dusty villages of Sokoto, Kebbi, Zamfara, Kano, Jigawa are quick in calling you ‘Arne or Kafiri’ (Meaning Pagan) once you express your view on anything their God PMB and his brigade of small Angels are doing. Attack the attacker, and lets the skies fall”.The magistrate, Alhaji Awwal Musa while presiding over the case, said that the police was empowered to protect, investigate and carry out the duty assigned to them, hence the court cannot deny them their power.
He argued that the police had not finished their investigation yet, and as such, Dr Danfulani be remanded in police custody. He also said that further investigation must be concluded in the matter latest by Monday, 1st February, 2016.
Earlier, Barrister Gamaliel Kore, leading other six defending counsels sought for the bail of the accused person, saying that the case was bailable, and as a responsible lecturer, he would not jump bail.
He argued that the accused was invited by the police which he voluntarily honoured even when he was away in foreign country, stressing that if granted bail, he will always be available to stand trial.
The prosecuting officer had prayed that the court should not grant the accused person bail but should be remanded in police custody for three weeks to allow full investigation into the matter without any interference.
Danfulani, who was detained over an alleged Facebook comment is said to be a known critic of the government of Mallam Nasir El Rufai.
