Court allegedly sentences musician to 2 years imprisonment

We gathered that a magistrate court in Kano has sentenced a singer, Mohammed Yusuf, to two years imprisonment for defaming the character of the state governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, in his hit song.

According to reports, Yusuf's song which was intended to praise Emir of Kano Muhammadu Sanusi II contained some stanzas in which he outrightly defamed Governor Ganduje. Daily Nigerian reports that the singer, Mohammed, was arrested by the police on Monday, June 17 and arraigned before magistrate court at 72 Noman’s Land in Kano, presided by Aminu Gabari.

It was gathered that the court found Yusuf guilty of three-count charges; of releasing a song without the approval of the Kano state Censorship Board, releasing a video without obtaining approval and defamation of the character of Governor Ganduje.

In the said hit song, the singer had stated that the governor can sell his wife, Goggo, because of money. Some lines in the song read: "Kano governor has already turned blind, I swear what you did is hurting us, for lucre, governor is more than a thief, for lucre, governor can sell out Goggo." Meanwhile, Muhammadu Sanusi II and Governor Ganduje have been ordered to maintain status quo. The order is in respect of the interim order issued against Ganduje which stopped the governor from appointing four new emirs in Kano state. Barr. Ibrahim Mukhtar, counsel to Ganduje, urged the court to vacate the order of maintaining status quo.