Police Detain Kano Journalist Over Alleged Defamation

The Zone 1 Headquarters of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) successful Kano State has confirmed that it was investigating a Kano-based writer and online broadcaster, Ibrahim Ishaq, popularly known arsenic Dan Uwa Rano, implicit allegations of defamation of character.

The confirmation followed wide nationalist interest aft Ishaq’s detention connected Saturday, allegedly linked to a petition filed by Abdullahi Rogo, the director-general of Protocol astatine the Kano State Government House, who is presently nether probe by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) implicit an alleged ₦6.5 cardinal wealth laundering case.

LEADERSHIP reports that archetypal accounts from the detained journalist’s adjacent associates claimed helium was whisked distant by the constabulary portion moving successful his bureau successful Kano connected Saturday without presenting an apprehension warrant, and instantly taken to the zonal constabulary bid for questioning pursuing a remark helium made successful a programme called “Imalu” connected his online platform.

However, successful a connection issued connected Sunday, the Zonal Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Bashir Muhammad, said AIG Ahmed Garba, directed that Ishaq beryllium invited for questioning based connected the petition against him.

“After a thorough investigation, if recovered wanting, helium volition beryllium charged to court,” the connection read.

The constabulary further advised media practitioners to guarantee equilibrium successful their reportage and to prosecute the Zonal Public Relations Unit earlier publishing delicate stories. AIG Garba besides cautioned journalists against interfering with ongoing investigations, urging them to “allow the instrumentality to instrumentality its course.”

The bid assured the nationalist that the probe would beryllium conducted impartially and that its findings would beryllium made public.

The connection did not, however, clarify the legality of the journalist’s archetypal detention oregon the claims that helium was held without an apprehension warrant.

Meanwhile, respective property state advocates and civilian nine groups person continued to telephone for Ishaq’s merchandise and an extremity to what they described arsenic attempts to intimidate journalists for carrying retired their nonrecreational duties.