Kano Govt replies Amnesty, says freedom of expression Is not immunity from prosecution
By Kola Oyelere, Kano
The Kano State Government has rejected allegations by Amnesty International that the administration of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf and security agencies are suppressing freedom of expression and arbitrarily arresting critics of the government.
The government described the human rights organisation’s position as a “one-sided account” of complex political and legal matters, arguing that citizens were not being arrested or prosecuted simply for criticising the governor or expressing dissenting political opinions.
In a statement issued on Thursday by the Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Ibrahim Abdullahi Waiya, the government said freedom of expression was constitutionally guaranteed and that it recognised the rights of citizens, journalists, civil society organisations and opposition groups to criticise government policies and officials.
It, however, argued that the right to freedom of expression did not provide immunity from investigation or prosecution where an individual was alleged to have violated the rights of others or breached existing laws.
The statement said, “Freedom of expression, important as it is in a democratic society, does not accommodate incitement, harassment, defamation of character or other acts that are prohibited by the law.”
The government maintained that security agencies had a statutory responsibility to investigate allegations of criminal conduct, while courts had the constitutional responsibility to determine the guilt or innocence of accused persons
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It therefore rejected what it described as the characterisation of every arrest, investigation, prosecution or detention involving a government critic as “arbitrary” or a “sham trial” without consideration of the circumstances of individual cases.
According to the government, cases cited by Amnesty International should be assessed separately based on the allegations, applicable laws, evidence presented before the courts and decisions reached by competent judicial authorities.
It added that political affiliation or criticism of government should neither be regarded as evidence of guilt nor automatically treated as proof of innocence.
The government also stressed that security agencies operate under federal laws and their constitutional responsibilities, saying the circumstances and legal basis for an arrest or invitation for questioning should be examined on their individual merits.
The statement accused Amnesty International of reducing itself to serving political interests, consciously or unconsciously, and of promoting what it called “hate speech, misinformation, disinformation and fake news.”
The state government said it remained committed to democratic governance, the rule of law and protection of fundamental rights, adding that it had no objection to constructive criticism or lawful efforts to hold public officials accountable.
It urged Amnesty International to ensure that allegations concerning human rights violations were comprehensively investigated and presented with sufficient context, including the perspectives of government authorities, security agencies and the courts.
The government further called on the organisation to avoid conclusions that could portray legitimate law-enforcement activities as politically motivated without sufficient evidence establishing such a connection.
It said it remained willing to engage with human rights organisations, civil society groups, the media and other stakeholders on civic freedoms, security and good governance.
The government reiterated that Kano State would continue to uphold democratic principles and the rule of law while ensuring that the rights of citizens were respected.