A Kano State High Court has vacated the interim order restraining the police and other security agencies from arresting Kannywood musician, Ado Gwanja.
The court presided by Justice Aisha Mahmoud also prohibited Gwanja from engaging in further public performances until the completion of the investigation by the police in collaboration with the Kano State Censorship Board.
It should be recalled that on September 29, 2022, the Kano State Upper Shari’ah Court in Bichi, led by Dr. Musa Khalid, instructed the Commissioner of Police, Kano Command, to investigate Gwanja, Mr. 442, Safara’u, and six other suspected accomplices for songs that allegedly promote immorality and violate Kano’s norms and values.
The directive followed a complaint lodged by Badamasi Gandu and five other legal practitioners based in Kano.
Responding to the court order, Gwanja sought a restraining order from the Kano State High Court against the Kano police commissioner and nine other respondents to prevent his arrest until the motion on notice is heard
In his judgment delivered on Monday, Justice Aisha Mahmoud lifted the previous order, allowing the police to proceed with investigating Gwanja.
Furthermore, the court directed the police to conduct the investigation alongside the Kano State Censorship Board.
Earlier in the petition obtained, Badamasi Gwandu alleged that Gwanja was singing various songs that directly promoted or called for fornication.
He also recalled that on August 22, 2022, he discovered a new song, titled ‘CHASS ASOSA’, which had not yet been released at that time.
According to him, he promptly submitted a petition to the Kano State Hisbah Board, copied Kano State Governor, Council of Ulama, Kano State Censorship Board, and Shari’a Commission, urging them to take immediate action to prevent Gwanja from releasing the song.
Furthermore, the lawyer stated that Gwanja was invited but allegedly refused to attend, fleeing the state and subsequently releasing the song.
Numerous efforts to communicate the judgment to either Gwanja or his legal representative proved unsuccessful. (PUNCH)
