Four aides of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano state, including his spokesperson Sanusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, have been released on bail by the Department of State Services (DSS) following a petition filed against them by Kwankwasiyya Movement.
Dawakin Tofa confirmed in a Facebook post that he, alongside Salisu Yahaya Hotoro, Ibrahim Adam and Nuhu Dambazau, were detained for four hours by the Kano command of the DSS, before being granted bail on self-recognition.
He disclosed that Kwankwasiyya is set to present the matter before a court, with their arraignment scheduled for Tuesday.
The governor’s spokesperson alleged that part of the reason he was personally included in the petition was a song he commissioned from APC praise singer Dauda Kahutu, popularly known as Rarara, which contained innuendos directed at Kwankwaso.
He, however, admitted he did not initially realise the seriousness of the case, adding that he is willing to personally meet Kwankwaso and apologise before the court proceedings commence.
Despite the movement’s clarification that it is the one who petitioned the aides to DSS, the Governor’s spokesperson insisted that it was Kwankwaso who personally dragged them and not the movement.
Also commenting on the letter, one of those detained and Kano APC Youths Leader, Salisu Hotoro, insinuated that they were not the only people attacking the movement and that they, according to him, were equally being cyber bullied by its members.
“So, now anyone we take to court, there won’t be any problem, right?,” Hotoro asked rhetorically on his Facebook page Saturday night.
The Kwankwasiyya Movement had earlier petitioned the DSS, accusing the aides of cyber crimes, intimidation and defamation against its leaders and members.
The petition, sighted by our reporter, listed attacks on figures such as Kwankwaso, former Deputy Governor Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo, Kano Central Senator Rufai Sani Hanga and his son, Muhammad Samir Hanga.
The development is coming amidst deepening rift between Governor Yusuf and his former political mentor, Kwankwaso, with aides on both sides trading accusations of cyber bullying and defamation online.