Lecturer Remanded in Bandit-Hajj Defamation Case

​A Chief Magistrates’ Court in Katsina has ordered the remand of Dr. Bashir Kurfi, a lecturer at Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, following his arraignment by the Katsina State Police Command on charges of defamation of character and injurious falsehood.

​The presiding Chief Magistrate, Zaharaddeen Kofar Soro, issued the detention order after the defendant pleaded not guilty to the two-count charge preferred against him under Sections 308 and 309(1) of the Penal Code Law of Katsina State.

​Background to the Controversy

​The legal action stems from an interview Dr. Kurfi granted to Trust TV on June 24, 2026, in his capacity as a security analyst and the convener of the Katsina Security Community Initiative. During the broadcast, the lecturer alleged that the Katsina State Government had expended ₦10 million per person to sponsor certain notorious bandit leaders for the Hajj pilgrimage.

​Dr. Kurfi, a vocal critic of current security strategies in the North-West, argued that such gestures undermined public peace efforts and questioned the government’s commitment to eradicating banditry.

​Government Response

​The Katsina State Government, through its Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Dr. Nasir Mu’azu, promptly and vehemently denied the allegations. The government described the claims as “entirely baseless, unfounded, and devoid of any factual basis,” labeling them a deliberate attempt to mislead the public and disrupt the progress made by security agencies.

​While the state government has challenged the lecturer to provide verifiable evidence to substantiate his claims, it also warned that it would explore all legal avenues to protect its reputation. Interestingly, reports indicate that the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, previously mentioned the arrest of certain individuals by the Department of State Services (DSS) upon their return from Hajj at the Umaru Musa Yar’Adua Airport in Katsina, though the nexus between these events remains a point of intense public discourse.

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​Court Proceedings

​During the arraignment, the prosecution requested that the court remand the defendant in police custody, citing concerns that his release on bail could interfere with ongoing investigations.

​The defence counsel, A.D. Umar, vehemently opposed the application, asserting his client’s right to liberty while standing trial. Despite the defence’s plea, the presiding magistrate upheld the prosecution’s request and adjourned the matter to Monday, July 14, 2026, for the continuation of the hearing. Dr. Kurfi has since been remanded to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) of the Katsina State Police Command.

​For more details on the proceedings and the initial interview, you can watch the Trust TV report on the court session.

​This video provides direct coverage of the court proceedings and the legal arguments presented during the arraignment of Dr. Bashir Kurfi.