Hate Speech: Court adjourns hearing on Danfulani to Nov 25
//Hate Speech: Godwin Ekosin, Kaduna//
Following the release of ex political science lecturer of Kaduna State University, Dr. John Danfulani from Kaduna prison on Monday over inciting public statement between him and the state, Justice Bilkisu Mohammed of Kaduna High Court on Tuesday adjourned the case to November 25 for further hearing.
It will be recalled that Danfulani was charged to court on a two-count charge of seeking to excite hatred and contempt against the people of the north by referring to them as ‘’APC simpletons of Northern Nigeria’’ on his facebook wall.
According to the charge, Danfulani had referred to APC as ‘’a religious party, adding that ‘’northern leaders under the party are demi-gods and crusaders of their way of life.’’
‘’These people living in dusty villages of Sokoto, Kebbi, Zamfara , Kano, Jigawa are quick in calling you ‘arne’ or ‘kafiri’ once you express your view on anything their God, PMB and his brigades of small angels are doing.
‘’With their harmattan ravaged faces , rough legs and brown teeth, they behave like a herd of sheep’’, Danfulani allegedly posted on facebook.
Presiding on the suit on Tuesday, the Judge asked the prosecuting counsel to produce witnesses on the next adjourned date in order to commence hearing on the matter which has been filed since August 29th 2016.
Earlier, counsel to the state, Abdullahi Isiaka had prayed for an adjournment in order to serve witness summons on his two witnesses. He said that since the last adjourned date, the summons have not been signed because the trial judge was attending a seminar outside the state.
Barrister Mark Jacob, leading four other lawyers for the defence, had argued that the first witness is a nominal complainant and so he does not need to be served a summon before appearing in court.
He however conceded for the matter to be adjourned to today, a motion that the prosecuting counsel opposed because the date was not convenient for him. After due consultations, Justice Mohammed adjourned the case to November 25 for hearing.