A Chief Magistrate’s Court in Katsina has ordered the remand of Dr. Bashir Kurfi, a lecturer at Ahmadu Bello University and public affairs commentator, following his arraignment on allegations of defamation and injurious falsehood over comments linking the Katsina State Government to the sponsorship of bandits for the 2026 Hajj pilgrimage.
Dr. Kurfi was arraigned by the Katsina State Police Command before Chief Magistrate Zaharaddeen Kofar Soro on a two-count charge brought under Sections 308 and 309(1) of the Katsina State Penal Code. The charges stem from remarks he allegedly made during a television interview on June 24, in which he claimed that the state government sponsored some bandit leaders to perform the Hajj pilgrimage.
According to the prosecution, the comments were false, malicious and capable of damaging the reputation of both the Katsina State Government and its people. Prosecutors argued that the defendant made the statements knowing they could injure the government’s public image.
Dr. Kurfi pleaded not guilty to the charges. However, the prosecution urged the court to remand him in police custody pending the conclusion of investigations, arguing that granting him bail at this stage could interfere with the ongoing probe.
Counsel to the defendant, A.D. Umar, opposed the application and asked the court to admit his client to bail, maintaining that he was entitled to his liberty while standing trial. Despite the objection, the magistrate ordered that Dr. Kurfi remain in police custody and directed investigators to continue with their inquiries.
The case was adjourned to July 14, 2026, for further hearing. Speaking with journalists after the court session, the defence lawyer expressed confidence that his client would eventually be cleared of the allegations.
The development follows an earlier denial by the Katsina State Government, which described Dr. Kurfi’s allegation that it sponsored bandits for Hajj as false, baseless and politically motivated. The government had challenged him to provide credible evidence to support the claim and warned that it would pursue legal action to protect its reputation.
Experienced broadcast journalist with over 5 years of experience in reporting, multimedia editing, and storytelling across both traditional and digital media. I currently work with Vision FM 92.1 and Daily Frontier, where I report on security, conflict, and humanitarian issues, while also translating news into Hausa and Pidgin to reach wider audiences.
I also serve as a correspondent for Daily Frontier in Plateau and Benue States, Nigeria, covering security, conflict, and humanitarian developments in the region.
I hold a Diploma in Mass Communication from Adamawa State Polytechnic and a Bachelor’s degree in Mass Communication from the National Open University of Nigeria.
