A 25-year-old man, Halifa Garba, has been remanded in prison custody by a Kano magistrate court following allegations of defamation made against him by his employer, Sa’idu Dogo-Maliya, also known as Dogo Me-mai, Daily Nigerian reports.
The remand follows Garba’s accusation that Dogo-Maliya made homosexual advances toward him, which the businessman reportedly denied.
Magistrate Mansur Bello of Kumbotso Magistrate’s Court rejected Garba’s bail application and ordered his detention for one week.
Garba’s troubles reportedly began when he was employed by Dogo-Maliya as an errand boy and personal driver.
Badamasi Gandu, a human rights lawyer representing Garba, provided details of the events leading to his client’s arrest. Gandu said Dogo-Maliya allegedly made an inappropriate proposition to Garba, requesting a homosexual affair.
Garba reportedly declined, but the businessman allegedly sent explicit images and videos of homosexuality to Garba via WhatsApp.
Gandu explained, “He was even enticing Halifa that he would make him rich, take him to perform Umrah, among others. He then went further to send homosexual porn videos and pictures via WhatsApp. Halifa was very surprised at receiving the porn videos from his boss, so he replied with ‘Subhanallah’—an expression of surprise when something bad happens.”
After Garba’s refusal, Gandu claimed Dogo-Maliya tried to cover up his actions by hiring thugs to silence Garba. According to the lawyer, Garba was attacked while on a commercial tricycle, doused with petrol, and stabbed in an attempted murder.
“He was left in the pool of his blood before some good Samaritans came to his rescue. By God’s grace, he survived the attack,” Gandu said.
Despite the attack, which left Garba injured, Dogo-Maliya later filed a defamation claim against him at Police Zone 1 in Kano.
Garba provided evidence in the form of videos, pictures, and screenshots of the conversations with his employer but was reportedly met with resistance from the police, who failed to accept the evidence.
Gandu expressed frustration with the police’s handling of the case, alleging a coordinated effort between Dogo-Maliya and the magistrate to send Garba to prison. “We have evidence that Dogo Maliya held a private meeting with the magistrate. Unfortunately, they insisted that the boy be taken to that particular court,” Gandu said.
The lawyer condemned the decision to remand Garba, noting that the young man is still suffering from injuries inflicted during the attack.
“Sadly, Halifa has been remanded with injuries inflicted on him by the thugs hired by Dogo Maliya. The boy is still nursing the injuries, and that is how he has been sent to prison in this condition. I don’t know how he will get the wounds treated while in prison,” Gandu added.
