Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Chief Magistrates' Court in Katsina has granted bail to security analyst and public affairs commentator, Dr. Bashir Kurfi, who was arraigned last week on allegations bordering on defamation and making false statements following his arrest by the police over claims he made during a Trust TV interview in which he alleged that the Katsina State Government sponsored some former bandit leaders to perform this year's Hajj pilgrimage. Kurfi, who is also a lecturer at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, had been remanded in police custody by the court on Wednesday, 8 July 2026, after he was arraigned on a two-count charge of alleged defamation and injurious falsehood under Sections 308 and 309(1) of the Katsina State Penal Code. He pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Following the hearing, the court granted Kurfi bail on Monday, 13 July 2026, on the condition that he provides two reliable sureties who are residents of Katsina and can present evidence of ownership of landed property. Each surety is required to enter into a N500,000 bail bond should the defendant fail to appear in court, while the defence has undertaken to ensure that Kurfi attends all court proceedings until the conclusion of the trial. The case has been adjourned until August 13, 2026, for the continuation of hearing.
Speaking to journalists after the court session, counsel to Dr. Kurfi, Barrister A.D. Umar, welcomed the court's decision, describing the proceedings as smooth and fair. He said they had a smooth court session and everything went well, adding that the court had done what is right by granting him bail, considering the nature of the allegations against him. He also stated that both the defence and the prosecution were satisfied with the conduct of the proceedings.
Dr. Kurfi was arrested following a Trust TV interview in which he alleged that the Katsina State Government sponsored some former bandit leaders to perform this year's Hajj pilgrimage, claiming that about N10 million was spent on each pilgrim. He also questioned the effectiveness of peace agreements with armed groups, alleging that some bandit leaders benefited from government patronage. The Katsina State Government subsequently dismissed the allegations as baseless and unfounded, challenging the analyst to provide credible evidence to support his claims and warning that it would pursue legal action unless the allegations were substantiated or withdrawn.
The arrest and detention of Kurfi had earlier drawn sharp criticism from human rights groups and civil society organisations, who condemned the action as an attack on freedom of expression and an attempt to suppress dissent. The Katsina State Chapter of the Coalition of Northern Groups demanded the immediate and unconditional release of the analyst, describing the use of police and the judiciary as instruments of political vendetta. The coalition said the government was attempting to suppress dissenting voices on governance and security issues rather than tackling the "alarming reality of relentless bandit attacks" in the state. The group urged the Nigeria Police Force to focus on tackling banditry and other violent crimes rather than engaging in what it described as political witch-hunts.
With the bail granted and the case adjourned until August 13, 2026, for the continuation of hearing, Dr. Kurfi is expected to return to court on the adjourned date to face the charges against him, which he has consistently denied. The outcome of the case is being closely watched by civil society groups and political observers, who see it as a test of press freedom and the right to criticise government policies in Nigeria's increasingly tense political environment.
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