Alleged Defamation: Court remands Muaz Magaji in prison custody

By Matthew Eloyi

The Magistrate’s Court 58 Nomansland, Kano has remanded a former Kano State commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Muaz Magaji, in prison custody.

Mr Magaji is facing a four-count charge, bordering on defamation of character, intentional insult, injurious falsehood and inciting disturbance against the governor of Kano State, Abdullahi Ganduje.

When the charges, which contravened Sections 392, 399 and 114 of the Administration of Criminal Justice of Kano State 1999, were read to him by the prosecution counsel, W.A Wada, Mr Magaji pleaded not guilty to all the charges.

The prosecution counsel therefore applied for adjournment in order to present his case.

But the defense counsel, Gazzali Ahmad, applied for bail of his client on health ground, citing Sections 168, 172 and 174 of the Administration of Criminal Justice of Kano State 1999.

The prosecution, however, opposed the bail application on the grounds that the defence counsel did not tender sufficient evidence to prove his client’s alleged debilitating health condition.

Mr Wada further said granting Mr Magaji bail will encourage the youths to defame the character of people.

When the magistrate asked Mr Magaji whether he knew the meaning of defamation of character, the former commissioner answered in the negative.

But the magistrate countered the accused, saying in the First Information Report, FIR, he is being accused of posting Mr Ganduje’s picture with a lady, which the prosecutors see as portraying the governor of having extra-marital affairs with other ladies.

The magistrate therefore ordered that he be remanded in prison custody and adjourned the case to February 3, 2022 for ruling on the bail application.