Hausa singer, Mohammed Yusuf, more popularly known as AGY has been sentenced to two years imprisonment by a magistrate’s court in Kano State, for defaming the state governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, in a viral song. AGY was arrested by the police on Monday night and arraigned before Magistrate Court 72, presided over by Aminu Gabari.

During the summary trial on Wednesday, the court found him guilty of three-count charges of releasing a song without the approval of the Kano State Censorship Board, releasing a video without obtaining same approval and defamation of the character of Mr Ganduje. On count 1 and 2, the singer was sentenced to six months each with an option N50,000 fine each, while on count 3, the musician bagged one year without an option of fine.

In the song, the Hausa singer said the governor can sell his wife (Goggo) because of money. Other parts read thus: “Kano governor has already turned blind. I swear what you did is hurting us. For lucre, governor is more than a thier. For lucre, governor can sell out his Goggo.”

While reacting to the court verdict, the National President of Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria – PMAN, Pretty Okafor, said AGY made a big mistake by mentioning the governor by name and that their is nothing the association can do about the case.
“There is a way you can sing about somebody without mentioning their name and the person will know you’re singing about them. What AGY did was very wrong. It’s defamation of character and PMAN doesn’t support such. He sang it to please his fans but who is inside jail now?” he added.