By; JACOB ONJEWU DICKSON, Kaduna.
Reporter with Vanguard Newspapers, Mr. Luka Binniyat was on Monday arraigned before Kaduna Magistrate Court, Ibrahim Taiwo Road for allegedly writing injurious, falsehood and disturbance of public peace contrary to section 393 and 113 of the penal code.
He was however granted bail of two suites to produce Certificate of Occupancy, C of O, and N2000,000.
For failing to perfect the bail conditions on Monday, he was escorted to the Kaduna Convict Prison by his colleagues who were there with him in solidarity
According to the charge read before him, “On the 22nd day of January, 2017, a report at the disposal of the Commissioner of Police, reveals that, you Luka Binniyat ‘m’ of No. 7 Peter street Ungwar Boro, Kaduna State, a journalist, made a circulatory publication on newspapers and social media containing a falsehood statement capable of breaching the public peace whereby you stated that five (5) students of College of Education, Gidan Waya, Kafanchan were ambushed and shot dead by herdsmen somewhere close to Gidan Waya amongst other injurious statements which you know and believed very well that it was not true. An intrigue to cause fued among the peoples living within Kaduna State. Thereby committed an offense punishable under section 393 and 113 of the penal code law of Kaduna State 1991.”
It would be recalled that another journalist, Jacob Onjewu Dickson was arraigned before same court last year and is still under going trial, after spending seven days at the same prison for allegedly defaming the Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir el-Rufai in news items published on online medium, AUTHENTIC News Daily.
Some journalists who spoke off record ouside the court premises expressed sadness over the development, suggesting that journalism was in danger.
