Tag Archives: Sadiq Zazzabi

Hausa singer, Sadiq Zazzabi, facilitated the freedom 35 prison inmates.

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Pro-Kwankwaso Hausa singer, Sadiq Zazzabi says he facilitated the release of 35 inmates who were either wrongly detained in prison or could not meet up with their bail and fine terms.

The award-winning singer who was detained for seven days at a Kano prison for allegedly violating the Kano State Censorship Board Law, disclosed this in a chat with PREMIUM TIMES shortly after his release.

The law states that every song or movie must be screened and approved by the state censorship board before it can be released.

The 38-year-old artiste failed to get the approval of the censorship board before releasing his controversial song, “Maza bayan ka” (All Men Behind You).

“While I was in detention, I met many prisoners who were wrongly detained and some could not just afford a simple bail pledge. After I regained my freedom I was determined to make sure such people get their freedom back. I quickly mobilized for their release by paying their fine and bail terms,” he said.

Mr. Sadiq said he got some form of support from his friends and bosses.

“Many of the inmates only required less that N10,000 to regain their freedom while others were wrongly arrested and detained during a raid by security operatives. One of the victims Ali Mai Shayi, is a tea seller who was wrongly arrested by security operatives during a raid around his tea joint,” he noted.

PREMIUM TIMES spoke with one of the beneficiaries of Sadiq’s benevolence, Manu Sambo, in Kano.

He said, “I am a shoe seller who was also wrongly arrested by security operatives at night on my way to my abode in Gidan Murtala along with other people. We were asked to pay a fine of N5000 before we could be released.

“Some people got their friends and relatives to pay for them while I had nobody to pay for me. I kept praying until God sent Sadiq Zazzabi to help secure my release.”

But the singer told PREMIUM TIMES he was being targeted because of his support for Mr. Kwankwaso. He maintained that he was charged because the song expresses open support for former Kano governor and criticises the incumbent, Umar Ganduje.

The Kano State government has since denied the allegation.

Sadiq said he has since moved although he is still facing trial at a Kano court for the offence.

Sadiq is a talented R&B singer in northern Nigeria who is popular for his songs about love, social issues and politics.

He was taken to court in the city of Kano on a two-count charge of releasing a song which the prosecutor described as “containing immorality by featuring seductive dance(s) by women”.

Kano’s censorship board was set up in 2002 to regulate the city’s booming film and music industry popular among Hausa speakers.

 

Source: Premium Times

JUST IN: Kano singer, Sadiq Zazzabi, released on bail.

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Detained Kano State musician, Sadiq Zazzabi, has been released.

Zazzabi was arraigned by the Kano State Censorship Board for releasing a song for former governor of Kano State, Rabiu Kwankwaso, without the approval of the censorship board.

The court which sat on Wednesday directed that Zazzabi be remanded in prison until last week Friday.

However, the court did not sit on Friday which resulted in the singer remaining in prison custody until Monday 6.

On Monday, the musician was granted bail on three conditions: the sum of N100,000, a member of the music writers association of Kano State, and a civil servant of not lower than grade level 14.

Zazzabi met with the bail conditions and has since been released.

The court sitting will continue on March 27.

?Zazzabi has, however, said he is being targeted because of his support for Mr. Kwankwaso, an allegation the government denies, saying he violated state censorship laws.

Mr. Kwankwaso and incumbent Governor Abdullahi Ganduje have been at odds with each other, and their supporters have often clashed.

Speaking to PREMIUM TIMES from Kano, the chairman of the censors board, Ismaila Afakallahu, also confirmed that the musician has met the bail conditions.

Asked if the board has any agenda on the matter, Mr. Afakallahu said “what we are doing is what we are expected to do as regulatory commission. We are not witch-hunting anybody. We are doing this for the benefit of all of us.” He said.

A call to Sadiq Zazzabi could not go through.

 

Source: Premium Times

Court sends Kano musician to prison over new song

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A court has remanded the embattled Kano singer, Sadiq Zazzabi, over his newly-released song.

The singer was arraigned before the censorship court in Kano for allegedly violating the state’s censorship board law which requires that a songs or movies should pass a censorship screening before it is released.

Sadiq released his song before the approval of the censorship board.

But the singer told PREMIUM TIMES he was being targeted because of his support for former Gov. Rabiu Kwankwaso. The government denies the allegation.

Mr. Kwankwaso and incumbent Governor Abdullahi Ganduje have been at odds with each other, and their supporters have often clashed.

A summons seen by PREMIUM TIMES, said Sadiq was to present himself at the court at 10 a.m. Wednesday to defend himself for launching a song that was before the censors’ board.

The chairman Kano state censors board, Ismaila Afakallahu, confirmed to PREMIUM TIMES that Sadiq will remain in prison till Friday.

“The sitting took place today and Sadiq was asked to be remanded in prison until Friday when the court will resume hearing on the case,” he said.

He insisted the matter was not about politics.

“Yes he actually brought the song for censorship and before we can grant him a certificate of approval, he went ahead to launch the song. For doing that he has faulted the censors’ board rule and we are charging him for that.

“Censoring a movie or song can take up to three weeks or more depending on the complexity of the song or film.”

 

Source: Premium Times