Court orders arrest of Kano singer over ‘song lyrics’

A high court in Kano has ordered the arrest of Ado Gwanja, the Kannywood actor and singer, over the “use of inappropriate language” in his songs.

Badamasi Gandu, a legal practitioner, had previously filed a complaint against Gwanja over songs that allegedly promote immorality and violate the state’s norms and values.

Gandu alleged that the singer’s music directly promotes fornication, arguing that his public performances flout the moral teachings of Islam.

An Upper Shari’ah court in Bichi would later instruct the police to arrest and investigate Gwanja, Mr. 442, Safara’u, and six other suspected accomplices.

Gwanja sought a restraining order from the Kano high court against the state’s police to prevent his arrest.

But on Monday, Aisha Mahmud, the court magistrate, reversed the previous order preventing the singer’s arrest.

The court directed the police to arrest Gwanja and conduct an investigation alongside the Kano state censorship board.

The court also banned the singer from posting his music online and performing at public events such as weddings.

It also mandated that Gwanja must submit his songs to the Kano film and videos censorship board for approval before public release.

Gwanja’s songs are popular, especially among women and youths in northern part of the country.

His songs include ‘Kujerar Tsakar Gida’, ‘Mamar-Mamar’, ‘Ɗakin Baƙuwa’, ‘Asha Rawa-rawa’, ‘Kilu ta Ja Bau’, ‘Kidan Mata’, ‘Warr’, ‘Chass’, and ‘Luwai’.