MFWA condemns Bauchi Police  Refusal to Release WikkiTimes Publisher’s Phone Despite Court Order

From David Kuvie Bauchi

The Media Foundation for West Africa, MFWA has expressed concern over the Bauchi State Police’s refusal to return Haruna Mohammed Salisu’s phone, which contains two SIM cards, despite a court order mandating them to do so.

It will be recalled that on March 9, a magistrate court in Bauchi State ordered the police to release Salisu’s phone and SIM cards.

However, the police have yet to comply with the court order, and Salisu’s phone remains in their possession.

The police’s continued withholding of Salisu’s phone is preventing him from doing his work as a journalist and disrupting his personal life.

Salisu is worried that the police may be tampering with his phone, accessing its contents, and using the information for their own purposes.

“The Media Foundation for West Africa MFWA is deeply concerned about the continuing harassment of Haruna Mohammed Salisu, publisher of the WikkiTimes news website and calls on the government of Bauch State to uphold the rights of the journalist”, the foundation said in a statement.

On February 25, 2023, security officers close to Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, arrested Salisu in Duguri while he was covering Nigeria’s presidential elections. 

His phone was seized, and he was detained. 

Salisu alleges that the governor ordered his arrest.

On March 7, Salisu was arraigned at Magistrate Court III on a charge of inciting public disturbance, which he denies. 

Although he was granted bail, he was not released until March 9 when he met the bail conditions. 

In addition to the emotional impact of his arrest and detention, Salisu’s family has been adversely affected.

His mother fell ill, and his wife is still traumatized by the events.

The MFWA has condemned the arbitrary arrest and detention of Salisu, along with the seizure of his phone and the police’s refusal to comply with a court order. 

The MFWA has called on Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, to intervene and put a stop to the persecution of Salisu