Cleric Arraigned For Defamatory Comments Against Emir Sanusi

A renowned cleric by the name Sheikh Nasir Bazallah, has been arraigned by the Nigerian Police before a Kano Magistrate court for allegedly making defamatory comments about the Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi, with the intent to provoke chaos.



According to the PUNCH, the prosecution alleged that the cleric had incited public disturbance and attempted to defame the character of the monarch, an act that runs contrary to Section 114, 392 and 399 of the penal code.

First information report stated that on the 8th of May, 2017, Emir Sanusi lodged a complaint to the Commissioner of Police stating that the defendant had acted in a manner that defamed the monarch’s character.


Furthermore, the report alleged that the Islamic Scholar had gathered his followers and made inciting comments with the intent of causing public anarchy.

However, the cleric denied the allegations, urging the court to agree to bail terms.

Consequently, the presiding Magistrate granted the defendant bail in the sum of 1 million Naira and two sureties who must be directors at any federal ministry with police investigations still ongoing to determine what truly happened.