Kebbi Govt Fights Back: “We’re Not Using Courts to Silence Opposition!”

The Kebbi State Government has refuted accusations of weaponizing the judicial system to target political opposition figures in the state.

According to reports, the Centre for Reforms and Public Advocacy recently raised concerns during a press briefing in Abuja, alleging that over 20 individuals—primarily political dissenters—have been detained under questionable legal charges. The group accused the state of manipulating magistrate and area courts to suppress voices critical of the current administration.

The Centre’s Head of Legal Services, Kalu Kalu Agu, cited specific instances, including the case of Ibrahim Adamu Augie, who was reportedly arrested for circulating a video addressing healthcare challenges in the state. Another individual, Mukhtar Dan Baturiya, was said to have been detained following comments perceived as critical of the government. Additional names mentioned included Ahmad Tijjani Musa and Ibrahim Bature, both allegedly targeted for expressing dissenting views on governance-related matters.

In response, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Ahmed Idris, dismissed the allegations as baseless and politically orchestrated. He stated that the administration remains focused on delivering good governance and would not be sidetracked by what he described as “false narratives” driven by partisan motives.

The government reiterated its commitment to upholding the rule of law while maintaining that recent legal actions were in accordance with due process and not influenced by political considerations.