Lawyer, activist and businessman Audu Maikori was freed
from security custody yesterday on bail following his arrest on Friday
for allegedly spreading false information on the Southern Kaduna
killings. Maikori was picked up in Lagos and flown to Abuja preparatory
to his possible arraignment in court tomorrow. The owner of Chocolate
City is believed to have been picked up on the strength of the
information he posted on social media about two weeks ago in which he
claimed that six students
of the College of Education in Gidan-Waya,
Kaduna, were killed by Fulani herdsmen during an attack on the school.
Among the dead, according to him, was his driver’s younger brother. The
information turned out to be untrue, prompting a retraction and apology
from him to the authorities of the school and Governor Nasir el-Rufai of
Kaduna State who said false information has always been the major cause
of the incessant killings in Southern Kaduna. Former Education Minister
Oby Ezekwesili revealed yesterday her efforts to make El-Rufai change
his mind about prosecuting Maikori more so after the activist had
apologized. Ezekwezili, in a series of tweets said: “I urged the
@GovKaduna to get @Audu out & he replied that his policy of
Consequences was important for stemming killings in #SouthernKaduna.
“The @GovKaduna stated that the actions for which @Audu apologized
inflamed the#SouthKaduna conflict more & so the law taking its
course. “I asked the @GovKaduna to consider @Audu ‘s apology and his
unfortunate arrest as a TEACHABLE MOMENT for both the Government &
everyone. “People already know how stridently I insist on EVIDENCE-BASED
ADVOCACY. WE all must take a LESSON from this. @GovKaduna @Audu.
#LESSON “There’s no basis for a Govt clamp down on Citizens’ FACT-BASED
advocacy on ANY ISSUE. So @Audu admitted he was WRONG. Accept it
@GovKaduna “I told @GovKaduna that it was best to FREE @Audu & use
this as the Govt’s POLICY MOMENT to get its MESSAGE of CONSEQUENCES thru
to Public. “@GovKaduna stated that he had personally reached out asking
@Audu to not post those particularly untrue stories but he had
continued. “I pressed on the NECESSITY for@GovKaduna to act to FREE
@Audu and allow all sides to LEARN the RIGHT LESSON from this painful
episode. “At the end of our discussion,@GovKaduna agreed to ACT and
FREE@Audu quickly and end this unfortunate development. WILL WATCH OUT
FOR IT. “@GovKaduna had stated that @Auduwould be charged to court on
Monday. I urged that since he already apologized,Police can CAUTION
& RELEASE. “Upon release today, I very much hope that @GovKaduna and
@Audu can find points of COLLABORATION on#SouthernKaduna after this sad
episode. “All folks on the two sides of the divide baying for blood
really must know that Nigeria CANNOT SURVIVE a Religious War. Shield
YOUR SWORDS.” Maikori’s lawyer, Mark Jacob confirmed the release of his
client on bail yesterday.
Police release Chocolate City owner Audu Maikori on bail
Reviewed by
Asaph Mic
on
14:14:00
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