A renowned activist, Dr. John Danfulani, has been ordered remanded in Kaduna Prison by a Kaduna State High Court.
This followed a suit brought against Danfulani by the Kaduna State Government for his criticism of the State Governor, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, on the social media.
A similar suit brought against him was dismissed by a Magistrate Court.
In the suit before the State High Court on Wednesday, Danfulani was accused of posting “inciting” comments on the social media on December 28, 2015.
He was arraigned before a High Court in Suite B4 at 14, Ibrahim Taiwo Road, Kaduna.
Danfulani, a former lecturer in the Department of Political Science of the Kaduna State University, had won at a lower court when charged by Kaduna State Government over a Facebook post criticizing what he termed the mal-administration of El-Rufai and his leadership style.
He was earlier arraigned in January 2016 before a Magistrate Court by the State’s Commissioner of Police.
He spent six days in prison before his bail application could be heard, the case which was later struck out for no locus standi upon hearing.
However, on Wednesday, the Kaduna State Ministry of Justice filed a fresh case against Danfulani at the State High Court before Justice Bilkisu Mohammed.
In the “Notice to Prefer a Charge”, signed by Bayero Dari and Abdullahi Isiaka for the Ministry of Justice, the state said the alleged criminal charges against Danfulani falls under section 417 and 418 of the Penal Code Law.
Dari and Isiaka said the alleged Facebook post where Danfulani spoke about fuel scarcity, high foreign exchange and a high number of out of school children in the North sought to excite hatred and contempt against the people of Nigeria.
Danfulani, pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to him.
Justice Mohammed said he should be remanded in prison till November 7 when she will be back from a seminar to listen to the bail application.
Danfulani, who spoke to newsmen at the court premises before he was taken to prison, said he is being persecuted for simply criticizing the activities of both the State and Federal Governments.
He added that the constitution of the Federal Government gives him the right to freely express his opinion on issues of governance that he is not comfortable with.
