A Kano Magistrate Court, Tuesday, granted bail to Muktar Dahiru, a journalist standing trial in Kano for alleged criminal conspiracy, defamation of character, and intentional insult.
The bail was granted in the sum of one million Naira.
He was also ordered to provide three sureties, one of whom must be the state chairman of the Nigeria Union ofJournalists, his wife and a member of society endorsed by the Kano State Hisbah Board .
The Magistrate Umma Kurawa, thereafter ordered him to refrain from posting any further offensive content on his social media handle against the complainant
The accused, who works with Radio Nigeria, Pyramid FM, Kano, was arraigned before the Magistrate court following a complaint lodged against him by the complainant, Anas Dala
Speaking after the court session, Dahiru’s counsel, Barrister Dahiru Yahuza Adam, expressed satisfaction with the bail.
“The court granted our client bail on a one million Naira bond. The sureties must include the chairman of the NUJ, his wife, and a reputable individual endorsed by the Hisbah commander of his area,” he stated.
The prosecuting counsel, Barrister Safiya Y Yahaya, from the Ministry of Justice, did not oppose the bail application.
She agreed that defamation of character was a bailable offence and that the bail would likely have been granted even if the prosecution objected.
“We did not oppose the bail but requested certain conditions,” Yahaya explained.
The complainant, Anas Dala who was a Special Adviser in the immediate past administration in the state, explained that he dragged Dahiru to court over the defamation of his character.
According to him, Dahiru used his social media handle to address him as an adulterer and a wayward son who abandoned an 85-year-old mother hawking on the street.
Hr also alleged that the accused defamed by claiming that he impregnated a lady, an allegation the complainant described as untrue.
