The Kano State government has filed a complaint against Ismail Auwal and Buhari Abba, publishers of Kano Times Online, over alleged defamation.

The Commissioner of Information and Internal Affairs, Ibrahim Waiya, filed a complaint with the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Kano Police Command, accusing Auwal of defamation in an open letter addressed to Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf.

The letter, titled “Dear Gov. Yusuf, Beware of Kano Information Commissioner Ibrahim Waiya,” was published by Kano Times.

Auwal’s letter, while acknowledging the governor’s achievements, raised concerns about growing tensions between civil society organisations (CSOs) and Waiya, warning that the commissioner’s history with CSOs could undermine the government’s credibility.

Speaking with Daily Trust on the issue, Buhari Abba said he received a call from a police officer, ASP Mukhtar Isah, from the CID on March 22, 2025. “I honoured the invitation on Monday, March 24. After writing my statement, they seized my phones and detained me in an office. I was later allowed to pray before securing bail through Barrister Patience from the Human Rights Journalists Network,” he said.

Abba disclosed that he is facing charges of defamation of character and criminal conspiracy, with ASP Mukhtar Isah handling the case file.

Meanwhile, Daily Trust gathered that Ismail Auwal also honoured a police invitation at the Kano Police Command for questioning but was later released after spending about five hours with the police.

[DailyTrust]