A lecturer at the Kaduna State University, Dr. John Danfulani was arrested late January because of a Facebook post he made which was critical of President Muhammadu Buhari and his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC). He was detained by the police, remanded in prison, and charged for “incitement” by the Kaduna State Government.
In addition, Danfulani was issued a query at work and placed on suspension. He has been released on bail after meeting very stringent bail conditions. He wrote an article on his experience which is undemocratic and a sign of a despotic government. He called out Kaduna Governor, Nasir El Rufai for clamping down on freedom of speech, after enjoying unlimited personal freedoms under the government of Goodluck Jonathan.
He said that El Rufai had insulted Christians and Christianity, making mockery of the religion and its leaders on social media when he was in the opposition, but turns around to express intolerance when he is in government.
Danfulani, a human rights activist, also reaffirmed his commitment to playing his civil duty of holding the government accountable and to a high standard. “No retreat, no surrender,” he said in his article which is fully reproduced below:
Dr. John Danfulani, lecturer at Kaduna State University
MY SIX DAYS ORDEAL WITH THE POLICE, COURT AND THE PRISON
On Tuesday, the 2nd of February, 2016 the gate of Kaduna Prison was opened for me to head to my home. That marked the end of a 6-day ordeal in the hands of the Police, Court, and Prison that started at 10am of the 28th of January, 2016.
The 6-day drama and melodrama was engineered by a letter from the State Command of Nigeria Police(NP) to my employer Kaduna State University (KASU) requesting them to release me for an interview at their headquarters. On receiving the NP’s request dated 21st January 2016, an internal memorandun was raised directing me to unfailingly report to the Police by 10am of the 25th January, 2016. Because I was out of the country, I couldn’t keep faith with the said date but phoned the contact on the NP’s letter of invitation and told him my difficulties of rescheduling my flight within the short time I got the news of his request. And told him that all things being equal, I would be available on 28th Janaury 2016 by 10 am. The officer was satisfied with my explanation and even sympathized with me.
On reaching the State Command on the 28th of January, 2016 as rescheduled, I was directed to the Surveillance Section of the CID for “the interview”. After introducing myself to the horde of their busy experts, I was given a seat; and in a nick of time, a green file was tabled before me. In the case file were: a Complaint from the office of the Attorney General of Kaduna State, a Petition to the Governor against me, and two write-ups purported to be my social media updates uploaded sometimes in January, 2016.
The IPO asked whether I was the owner of the pen that poured words they adjudged to be hate speech with the capacity of causing breakdown of law and order. I vehemently and unequivocally distanced myself from the write-ups. Their usual niceties of putting denials or acceptance of allegations in black and white followed. After that, we started ascending from one Senior Officer to the other, climaxing with the CP.
After few exchanges with the CP, he ordered for immediate confiscation of my phone and laptop to enable them probe the inflow and outflow of my mails and social media updates. From the CP’s office we headed straight to my house to effect his verbal order, and returned to their headquarters after an hour. On arrival, my legal team went to CP and asked for bail, but he denied the bail. All reasons under the sun were marshaled to make him grant me bail, failed into his deaf ears. At the closing hour, I was dropped at the famous SAR’s cell in Ibrahim Taiwo Road.
On Friday, 29th January, 2016, I was taken to court around 10am but the judge left for Friday Prayer and promised to return after performing his holy duty. While waiting, one of the court’s official informed us that the Chief Magistrate said he would not come back; that he had gone to attend a wedding in Zaria. We all returned to the Police headquarters and initiated a fresh process of administrative bail. The CP denied that and prevailed on the judge to return and sit on the case. The court sat after 7pm of 29th January 2016 and denied me bail on request of the prosecution team. But gave the police three days to complete investigation and return on Monday, the 1st of February, 2016 for the further mention of the case. His denial returned me back to my SAR’s cell in Ibrahim Taiwo Road Kaduna.
On Monday, the 1st of February, 2016 we returned to the Court. NP once more asked for three weeks to complete their investigation. My legal team resisted that and raised a motion for my bail. The Chief Magistrate granted the bail with conditions that were not liberal to meet up within a few hours. Because I was no longer under the custody of NP, I was lodged in Kaduna Prison on 1st February 2016 pending when I meet up with the bail terms. Within 24hrs, my legal team, friends and fans mobilized men and materials to meet the bail terms.
Without any stretch of imagination, this case is politically instigated to kill a voice of dissent in Kaduna State. Freedom and liberty enshrined in our Constitution have come under serious assault by the government of Nasir Ahmed El-Rufa’i since assuming power on 29th of May, 2015. We are sure that APC’s government in Kaduna State shall stop at nothing to seeing that opposition mouth is shut and voice quieted so as to rule with impunity.
The same El-rufa’i that is harassing, intimidating, and blackmailing innocent citizens today because they expressed disagreement and disappointment with government policies and actions enjoyed unlimited freedom and liberty while in opposition. It is on record that he tweeted and retweeted post that were not only senseless, belittling and denigrative but blasphemous to Christian religion and its adherence. He was never harassed or intimidated by the former holders of power or believers of the religion he unabashedly mocked. His deliberate and provocative excesses were tolerated and seen as part of liberties concomitant in democratic settings. The phenomenon of some person enjoying their liberties while gagging others cannot stand in Kaduna State. We know that what is sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander.
My unstoppable struggle for an open society, promotion of responsible and responsive government, transparency in the act of governance, and respect for voices of dissents shall not peter-out because of crude power show of cowards who never honored Police invitations without being accompanied by Governors in recent past. I shall soldier-on and dare any aspiring dictator that is trying to condense the frontiers of liberty and freedom in Kaduna State and Nigeria at large. I shall continue to test their abiding or otherwise faith in basic tenets of democracy up to their last seconds in the office.
I want to use this opportunity to show my deepest gratitude to my team of Legal Irokos, International Rights Groups like Amnesty International, CLO, Senators of Federal Republic of Nigeria, Members of House of Representatives, patriotic citizens who surrendered their properties for me to meet up with the bail conditions, and comrades in the struggle for their overflowed solidarity.
No retreat, no surrender and no turn-tail-run.
Aluta continua, victoria ascerta.
Dr. John Danfulani

www.thetrentonline.com/how-i-spent-6-days-in-detention-because-i-criticized-buhari-on-facebook/?utm_content=buffer74863&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer

Reading

"You have freedom of speech but freedom after speech I cannot guarantee".

ok, sorry for your ordeals. But first of all, let us know the exact statements you made that made them arrest you.
Then we can know if you were unjustly detained or not.

If not that u are insane,how could u critisize ur president..does dis happen in europe..even if their leader made a mistake they will find a solution not by critisizing them..can u critisize military persionel..NO..because he will deal with u!!fear yur master because the bible and quran says so

INTROVERT:
Reading

Hmmmm

Brandnew2:
"You have freedom of speech but freedom after speech I cannot guarantee".

eyan mayweather fans

APC and buhari cannot take the criticism and insults they dished but thank God for social media for our voice won't be silenced


When El rufai was ranting on facebook and twitter he didn't know his stupidity will come back to hurt him

Its well ooooo

Wonders shall never end..

v

ozoigbondu:
APC and buhari cannot take the criticism and insults they dished but thank God for social media for our voice won't be silenced


When El rufai was ranting on facebook and twitter he didn't know his stupidity will come back to hurt him

Sir I don't think he was arrested cause of criticising Buhari. I think it has to do with"incitement and hate speech" which can lead to crisis.

No more democracy

Pidggin:
No more democracy

lol. I disagree with u my sister.

mynd1:
Sir I don't think he was arrested cause of criticising Buhari. I think it has to do with"incitement and hate speech" which can lead to crisis.

I read his post there was no incitement or hate speech there

Expect of cause to the morons who view their elites as gods,hate the truth and believe bubu is next to Allah

Buari na real durllaard.

El rufai is a useless charlatan who abused GEJ, not only get away with it, but became a governor.

May shango, oromiya, ayilala and oloku punish hell-rufai and oga Durlapo.

Useless criminals

ozoigbondu:
APC and buhari cannot take the criticism and insults they dished but thank God for social media for our voice won't be silenced


When El rufai was ranting on facebook and twitter he didn't know his stupidity will come back to hurt him

I am not trying to scheme up unnecessary attention here but if I narrate some of my ordeals( even as a poor and apolitical citizen), many would waive it off as mere fabrications. I discovered that my phones, movements and other personal activities were (and are still) been tapped. In fact, I received some strange calls before and after the 2015 elections. I guess these are prizes to be paid for writing on Nairaland and perhaps, speaking on Radio (which I seldom do). However, all these won't deter me from voicing my opinion on national issues most especially Buhari and APC's mischiefs since we are all stakeholders in Nigerian Project. I believe so strongly in my conscience and God. As it's often said, ONE WITH GOD IS MANY.

Oladimejy:
If not that u are insane,how could u critisize ur president..does dis happen in europe..even if their leader made a mistake they will find a solution not by critisizing them..can u critisize military persionel..NO..because he will deal with u!!fear yur master because the bible and quran says so

Go and examine your head, if you are mentally alright.

What happens to freedom of speech ?

OLADD:


I am not trying to scheme up unnecessary attention here but if I narrate some of my ordeals( even as a poor and apolitical citizen), many would waive it off as mere fabrications. I discovered that my phones, movements and other personal activities were (and are still) been tapped. In fact, I received some strange calls before and after the 2015 elections. I guess these are prizes to be paid for writing on Nairaland and perhaps, speaking on Radio (which I seldom do). However, all these won't deter me from voicing my opinion on national issues most especially Buhari and APC's mischiefs since we are all stakeholders in Nigerian Project. I believe so strongly in my conscience and God. As it's often said, ONE WITH GOD IS MANY.

they will have to tap millions of phones, because Nigerians will continue to lam-blast and criticize the government if they are not forthcoming.

U criticized TMB, and u are expecting a humanly reaction?,
Issorite

APC was a party formed by ex-criminals and treasury looters, who fooled Nigerians into thinking we need change?

Well what they don't realise is, Their secret is based on propaganda and false belief..


I DARE TO ASK THIS QUESTION: WHAT CHANGE HAS EL-RUFAI BROUGHT TO KADUNA STATE?

We want to know more on how the Kaduna monthly allocation is being managed. Why is El-rufai picking on those with stronger voice?

YOU CAN SILENCE 1, BUT YOU CANT SILENCE ALL...

Oladimejy:
If not that u are insane,how could u critisize ur president..does dis happen in europe..even if their leader made a mistake they will find a solution not by critisizing them..can u critisize military persionel..NO..because he will deal with u!!fear yur master because the bible and quran says so

Hello,

Question: How many were arrested for criticizing the past administration?

....and I must add, in Europe and in most nations of the Earth, people criticize their democratically elected leaders..this is what the Freedom of Speech Act stipulates...

Oladimejy:
If not that u are insane,how could u critisize ur president..does dis happen in europe..even if their leader made a mistake they will find a solution not by critisizing them..can u critisize military persionel..NO..because he will deal with u!!fear yur master because the bible and quran says so

Sorry to say, u mean at this age ur fada can't afford even if it's a black nd white TV with a startime decoder..

Common!! Ur illiteracy reeks mehn, kindly tell us here which country does not criticize it's president

Guy leave weed make weed leave you, sure if ur parents saw this ur comment they would be so heart broken....

Despotism, dictatorship, totalitarianism is in town.

Has it passed your street?

Watch out for it.

As for me and my house-hold, any oppression, suppression and victimisation from government or individual that comes around....

Holly Ghost.... FIRE.

Brandnew2:
"You have freedom of speech but freedom after speech I cannot guarantee".

You only see that in apc government

Oladimejy:
If not that u are insane,how could u critisize ur president..does dis happen in europe..even if their leader made a mistake they will find a solution not by critisizing them..can u critisize military persionel..NO..because he will deal with u!!fear yur master because the bible and quran says so

Really!!..when it was during GEJ time it was a norm for the opposition APC and its followers to criticise and abuse the sitting president then..what a double standard now that APC is in power..So ee dey pain abi? that they cannot even stomach odinary critism online..una noo fit take..now you guys have resulted to indimidation and assult on any one that critises the the president..hmmm!! una never start..Please say that to lai mohammed the king of criticism and lies...

comos:


they will have to tap millions of phones, because Nigerians will continue to lam-blast and criticize the government if they are not forthcoming.

You're are right. That's the truth.

Brandnew2:
"You have freedom of speech but freedom after speech I cannot guarantee".

That is what people fail to realize. Even in US freedom after speech is not guaranteed. The last time I checked, Edward Snowden is still hiding and Jim Clancy formally of CNN was sacked because of "unguarded" free speech.

mynd1:
Sir I don't think he was arrested cause of criticising Buhari. I think it has to do with"incitement and hate speech" which can lead to crisis.

Apc did worst incitement during Jonathan admminstratiion.El-Rufai was worst on that

mynd1:
Sir I don't think he was arrested cause of criticising Buhari. I think it has to do with"incitement and hate speech" which can lead to crisis.

Apc did worst incitement during Jonathan adminstrarion.El-Rufai was worst on that.So why is he hurt by that.