A very vocal human rights activist based
in the northern part of Nigeria has narrated how he was allegedly
victimized by security operatives for criticizing the President of
Nigeria.
in the northern part of Nigeria has narrated how he was allegedly
victimized by security operatives for criticizing the President of
Nigeria.
A lecturer at the Kaduna State
University, Dr. John Danfulani has detailed his ordeal in the hands of
security agents for criticizing the Buhari-led administration on
Facebook.
He was arrested late January because of a Facebook post he made which
was critical of President Muhammadu Buhari and his party, the All
Progressives Congress. He was detained by the police, remanded in
prison, and charged for “incitement” by the Kaduna State Government.
University, Dr. John Danfulani has detailed his ordeal in the hands of
security agents for criticizing the Buhari-led administration on
Facebook.
He was arrested late January because of a Facebook post he made which
was critical of President Muhammadu Buhari and his party, the All
Progressives Congress. He was detained by the police, remanded in
prison, and charged for “incitement” by the Kaduna State Government.
Reports also have it that the school authorities suspended him for allegedly inciting violence among students.
Here’s his story:
On Tuesday, the 2nd of February, 2016 the
gate of Kaduna Prison was opened for me to head to my home. That marked
the end of a 6-day ordeal in the hands of the Police, Court, and Prison
that started at 10am of the 28th of January, 2016.
gate of Kaduna Prison was opened for me to head to my home. That marked
the end of a 6-day ordeal in the hands of the Police, Court, and Prison
that started at 10am of the 28th of January, 2016.
The 6-day drama and melodrama was
engineered by a letter from the State Command of Nigeria Police(NP) to
my employer Kaduna State University (KASU) requesting them to release me
for an interview at their headquarters. On receiving the NP’s request
dated 21st January 2016, an internal memorandun was raised directing me
to unfailingly report to the Police by 10am of the 25th January, 2016.
Because I was out of the country, I couldn’t keep faith with the said
date but phoned the contact on the NP’s letter of invitation and told
him my difficulties of rescheduling my flight within the short time I
got the news of his request. And told him that all things being equal, I
would be available on 28th Janaury 2016 by 10 am. The officer was
satisfied with my explanation and even sympathized with me.
engineered by a letter from the State Command of Nigeria Police(NP) to
my employer Kaduna State University (KASU) requesting them to release me
for an interview at their headquarters. On receiving the NP’s request
dated 21st January 2016, an internal memorandun was raised directing me
to unfailingly report to the Police by 10am of the 25th January, 2016.
Because I was out of the country, I couldn’t keep faith with the said
date but phoned the contact on the NP’s letter of invitation and told
him my difficulties of rescheduling my flight within the short time I
got the news of his request. And told him that all things being equal, I
would be available on 28th Janaury 2016 by 10 am. The officer was
satisfied with my explanation and even sympathized with me.
On reaching the State Command on the 28th
of January, 2016 as rescheduled, I was directed to the Surveillance
Section of the CID for “the interview”. After introducing myself to the
horde of their busy experts, I was given a seat; and in a nick of time, a
green file was tabled before me. In the case file were: a Complaint
from the office of the Attorney General of Kaduna State, a Petition to
the Governor against me, and two write-ups purported to be my social
media updates uploaded sometimes in January, 2016.
of January, 2016 as rescheduled, I was directed to the Surveillance
Section of the CID for “the interview”. After introducing myself to the
horde of their busy experts, I was given a seat; and in a nick of time, a
green file was tabled before me. In the case file were: a Complaint
from the office of the Attorney General of Kaduna State, a Petition to
the Governor against me, and two write-ups purported to be my social
media updates uploaded sometimes in January, 2016.
The IPO asked whether I was the owner of
the pen that poured words they adjudged to be hate speech with the
capacity of causing breakdown of law and order. I vehemently and
unequivocally distanced myself from the write-ups. Their usual niceties
of putting denials or acceptance of allegations in black and white
followed. After that, we started ascending from one Senior Officer to
the other, climaxing with the CP.
the pen that poured words they adjudged to be hate speech with the
capacity of causing breakdown of law and order. I vehemently and
unequivocally distanced myself from the write-ups. Their usual niceties
of putting denials or acceptance of allegations in black and white
followed. After that, we started ascending from one Senior Officer to
the other, climaxing with the CP.
After few exchanges with the CP, he
ordered for immediate confiscation of my phone and laptop to enable them
probe the inflow and outflow of my mails and social media updates. From
the CP’s office we headed straight to my house to effect his verbal
order, and returned to their headquarters after an hour. On arrival, my
legal team went to CP and asked for bail, but he denied the bail. All
reasons under the sun were marshaled to make him grant me bail, failed
into his deaf ears. At the closing hour, I was dropped at the famous
SAR’s cell in Ibrahim Taiwo Road.
ordered for immediate confiscation of my phone and laptop to enable them
probe the inflow and outflow of my mails and social media updates. From
the CP’s office we headed straight to my house to effect his verbal
order, and returned to their headquarters after an hour. On arrival, my
legal team went to CP and asked for bail, but he denied the bail. All
reasons under the sun were marshaled to make him grant me bail, failed
into his deaf ears. At the closing hour, I was dropped at the famous
SAR’s cell in Ibrahim Taiwo Road.
On Friday, 29th January, 2016, I was
taken to court around 10am but the judge left for Friday Prayer and
promised to return after performing his holy duty. While waiting, one of
the court’s official informed us that the Chief Magistrate said he
would not come back; that he had gone to attend a wedding in Zaria. We
all returned to the Police headquarters and initiated a fresh process of
administrative bail. The CP denied that and prevailed on the judge to
return and sit on the case. The court sat after 7pm of 29th January 2016
and denied me bail on request of the prosecution team. But gave the
police three days to complete investigation and return on Monday, the
1st of February, 2016 for the further mention of the case. His denial
returned me back to my SAR’s cell in Ibrahim Taiwo Road Kaduna.
taken to court around 10am but the judge left for Friday Prayer and
promised to return after performing his holy duty. While waiting, one of
the court’s official informed us that the Chief Magistrate said he
would not come back; that he had gone to attend a wedding in Zaria. We
all returned to the Police headquarters and initiated a fresh process of
administrative bail. The CP denied that and prevailed on the judge to
return and sit on the case. The court sat after 7pm of 29th January 2016
and denied me bail on request of the prosecution team. But gave the
police three days to complete investigation and return on Monday, the
1st of February, 2016 for the further mention of the case. His denial
returned me back to my SAR’s cell in Ibrahim Taiwo Road Kaduna.
On Monday, the 1st of February, 2016 we
returned to the Court. NP once more asked for three weeks to complete
their investigation. My legal team resisted that and raised a motion for
my bail. The Chief Magistrate granted the bail with conditions that
were not liberal to meet up within a few hours. Because I was no longer
under the custody of NP, I was lodged in Kaduna Prison on 1st February
2016 pending when I meet up with the bail terms. Within 24hrs, my legal
team, friends and fans mobilized men and materials to meet the bail
terms.
returned to the Court. NP once more asked for three weeks to complete
their investigation. My legal team resisted that and raised a motion for
my bail. The Chief Magistrate granted the bail with conditions that
were not liberal to meet up within a few hours. Because I was no longer
under the custody of NP, I was lodged in Kaduna Prison on 1st February
2016 pending when I meet up with the bail terms. Within 24hrs, my legal
team, friends and fans mobilized men and materials to meet the bail
terms.
Without any stretch of imagination, this
case is politically instigated to kill a voice of dissent in Kaduna
State. Freedom and liberty enshrined in our Constitution have come under
serious assault by the government of Nasir Ahmed El-Rufa’i since
assuming power on 29th of May, 2015. We are sure that APC’s government
in Kaduna State shall stop at nothing to seeing that opposition mouth is
shut and voice quieted so as to rule with impunity.
case is politically instigated to kill a voice of dissent in Kaduna
State. Freedom and liberty enshrined in our Constitution have come under
serious assault by the government of Nasir Ahmed El-Rufa’i since
assuming power on 29th of May, 2015. We are sure that APC’s government
in Kaduna State shall stop at nothing to seeing that opposition mouth is
shut and voice quieted so as to rule with impunity.
The same El-rufa’i that is harassing,
intimidating, and blackmailing innocent citizens today because they
expressed disagreement and disappointment with government policies and
actions enjoyed unlimited freedom and liberty while in opposition. It is
on record that he tweeted and retweeted post that were not only
senseless, belittling and denigrative but blasphemous to Christian
religion and its adherence. He was never harassed or intimidated by the
former holders of power or believers of the religion he unabashedly
mocked. His deliberate and provocative excesses were tolerated and seen
as part of liberties concomitant in democratic settings. The phenomenon
of some person enjoying their liberties while gagging others cannot
stand in Kaduna State. We know that what is sauce for the goose is sauce
for the gander.
intimidating, and blackmailing innocent citizens today because they
expressed disagreement and disappointment with government policies and
actions enjoyed unlimited freedom and liberty while in opposition. It is
on record that he tweeted and retweeted post that were not only
senseless, belittling and denigrative but blasphemous to Christian
religion and its adherence. He was never harassed or intimidated by the
former holders of power or believers of the religion he unabashedly
mocked. His deliberate and provocative excesses were tolerated and seen
as part of liberties concomitant in democratic settings. The phenomenon
of some person enjoying their liberties while gagging others cannot
stand in Kaduna State. We know that what is sauce for the goose is sauce
for the gander.
My unstoppable struggle for an open
society, promotion of responsible and responsive government,
transparency in the act of governance, and respect for voices of
dissents shall not peter-out because of crude power show of cowards who
never honored Police invitations without being accompanied by Governors
in recent past. I shall soldier-on and dare any aspiring dictator that
is trying to condense the frontiers of liberty and freedom in Kaduna
State and Nigeria at large. I shall continue to test their abiding or
otherwise faith in basic tenets of democracy up to their last seconds in
the office.
society, promotion of responsible and responsive government,
transparency in the act of governance, and respect for voices of
dissents shall not peter-out because of crude power show of cowards who
never honored Police invitations without being accompanied by Governors
in recent past. I shall soldier-on and dare any aspiring dictator that
is trying to condense the frontiers of liberty and freedom in Kaduna
State and Nigeria at large. I shall continue to test their abiding or
otherwise faith in basic tenets of democracy up to their last seconds in
the office.
I want to use this opportunity to show my
deepest gratitude to my team of Legal Irokos, International Rights
Groups like Amnesty International, CLO, Senators of Federal Republic of
Nigeria, Members of House of Representatives, patriotic citizens who
surrendered their properties for me to meet up with the bail conditions,
and comrades in the struggle for their overflowed solidarity.
deepest gratitude to my team of Legal Irokos, International Rights
Groups like Amnesty International, CLO, Senators of Federal Republic of
Nigeria, Members of House of Representatives, patriotic citizens who
surrendered their properties for me to meet up with the bail conditions,
and comrades in the struggle for their overflowed solidarity.
No retreat, no surrender and no turn-tail-run.
Aluta continua, victoria ascerta.
Dr. John Danfulani
–>
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