The 58th Nomansland Magistrates Court, Kano has remanded former Kano State Works and Infrastructure Commissioner Muaz Magaji.
Mr. Magaji is facing a four count charge, bordering on defamation of character, intentional insult, libelous falsehood and incitement to riot against Kano State Governor Abdullahi Ganduje.
When the prosecution attorney, WA Wada, read him the charges, which violated sections 392, 399 and 114 of the Kano State Administration of Criminal Justice 1999, Mr. Magaji pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Therefore, the attorney for the prosecution requested an adjournment to present his case.
But the defense attorney, Gazzali Ahmad, applied for his client’s bail on health grounds, citing Sections 168, 172 and 174 of the 1999 Kano State Criminal Justice Administration.
However, the prosecution opposed the bail request on the grounds that the defense attorney did not present sufficient evidence to prove his client’s allegedly debilitating health condition.
Wada further said that granting Magaji bail will encourage young people to defame people’s character.
When the magistrate asked Mr. Magaji if he knew the meaning of defamation of character, the former commissioner replied in the negative.
But the magistrate responded to the defendant, saying in the First Information Report, FIR, that he is being accused of publishing the photo of Mr. Ganduje with a lady, which prosecutors believe portrays the governor having extramarital affairs with other ladies.
Therefore, the magistrate ordered his preventive detention and postponed the case until February 3, 2022 to rule on the request for bail.
Mr. Magaji was first indicted on Friday, January 28, but pleaded not guilty due to his alleged hearing loss.
Magaji’s attorney, Gazzali Ahmad, argued that his client temporarily lost his hearing due to hearing damage sustained after the airbag discharged.
The attorney further argued that the defendant would not be able to hear the charges and plead guilty.
Therefore, he begged the court to release his client on bail to seek medical attention.
Upon ruling on the matter, Mr. Gabari ordered that Mr. Magaji be taken to the police hospital and remain in police custody.
