Two journalists, Yakubu Musa Fagge (presenter) and Mubarak Muhamad Sani (reporter) who were arrested on Sunday, have been arraigned before a Magistrate court today.
The duo, staff of Wazobia FM Kano, was arraigned alongside the former director of the Kano Films and Censorship Board, Abubakar Rabo.
They were arraigned on charges of alleged criminal conspiracy, abbeting, inciting disturbance, obstruction of public officers from performing their duty, intentional insult, defamation of character and injurious falsehood.
The three men denied the contents of the Police First Information Report.
Senior Magistrate Ibrahim Bello who ordered that they be remanded in police custody pending the determination of their bail application fixed for Thursday, February 14, instructed the police to grant them unconditional access to their lawyers and family as well as guarantee all their constitutional rights.
Part of the contents of the FIR allege that Rabo conspired with the journalists to air a programme to defame the polio programme and defame the person of the district head of Tarauni. It also said the programme instigated the public against the polio programme which led to last Friday’s attack on and killing of 9 polio workers.
