Criticism: HURIWA Condemns Gov. Yusuf Over Detention Of A Journalist

Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA), has berated the Kano state government over what it described as the arbitrary arrest and illegal detention in prison of a journalist with the Radio Nigeria, Pyramid FM Kano, Muktar Dahiru.

HURIWA noted that Dahiru was remanded in Kano prison for sharing media content alleged to be critical of Kano State government officials which include Governor Abba Yusuf and Lamido Sanusi, who was reinstated as Emir.

The rights group described the action of the Kano State government as unconstitutional, illegally, arbitrary, despicable and absolutely unacceptable because the journalist was well within his constitutional mandate as a media practitioner and the conscience of the nation to share information that are verifiable and constitute effective check and balances on the public actions of elected and appointed public officials.

It noted that sections 22 and 39 of the constitution totally rejected the resort to self-help by the officials of the Kano state government who are behind the ordeals of the journalist.

HURIWA quoted media report as stating that the journalist Mr. Dahiru, was arrested by the police and remanded in a correctional facility on Thursday over allegation of sharing Facebook content which is considered offensive by the state government.

HURIWA noted that in a series of posts, Dahiru shared a broadcast audio interview with an opposition politician who accused Governor Yusuf of corruption, adding that on the audio, the opposition politician challenged the governor to give federal anti-corruption agencies the free hand to probe the Novomed scandal instead of the state anti-corruption agency.

HURIWA said that Novomed Pharmaceutical is owned by Musa Kwankwakso, the younger brother of former Governor Rabiu Kwankwakso, who is under investigation over a contract with the state government.

A statement by Emmanuel Onwubiko, National Coordinator of HURIWA said that in another video post, Dahiru shared a radio programme by the governor’s political adviser, Anas Abba- Dala, who speculated that Nigeria’s Vice President, Kashim Shettima, is not a Nigerian.

HURIWA recalled that the political adviser to the governor, Abba-Dala, complained against Dahiru to the police that in a Facebook post, called him an illiterate and that he tarnished his image by stating he impregnated a woman out of wedlock.

HURIWA noted that Magistrate Ummah Kurawa, ordered Dahiru to be remanded in a correctional facility until September 3, 2024 for hearing on a bail application.

HURIWA carpeted the government for acting in such a manner that flagrantly violated the constitutionally protected fundamental freedoms such as freedoms of information and right to freedom of movement.

The Rights group wondered how a state administration formed by a minority political party (NNPP) which is in opposition to the behemoth controlling the central government which is the All Progressives Congress (APC) is also as power drunk as the national ruling party.

It therefore urged the Kano state governor to order the immediate release of the detained radio journalist and be predisposed to accepting criticisms, stressing that Section 39 of the constitution guarantees the right to freedom of expression. HURIWA stated that Section 39 provides as follows: “Every person shall be entitled to freedom of expression, including freedom to hold opinions and to receive and impact ideas and information without interference.

“Without prejudice to the generality of Subsection (1) of this section, every person shall be entitled to own, establish and operate any medium for the dissemination of information, ideas and opinions, provided that no person, other than the government of the federation or a state, or any other person or body authorized by the president on fulfillment of a condition laid down by an Act of National Assembly, shall own, establish or operate a television or wireless broadcasting station for any purpose whatsoever”.

HURIWA also affirmed that Section 22 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria provides thus: “The press, radio, television and other agencies of the mass media shall at all times be free to uphold the fundamental objectives contained in this Chapter and uphold the responsibility and accountability of the Government to the people”.