A magistrate’s court in Kano has sentenced a budding songster, Mohammed Yusuf, to two years imprisonment for defaming the character of the state governor, Abdullahi Ganduje in a viral song.

Mr Yusuf, popularly known as AGY, recorded the innuendo-laden hit song which dwells on the governor’s alleged avarice, creation of new emirates in the state and election rigging.

The singer was arrested by the police on Monday night and arraigned before Magistrate Court 72, Noman’s Land presided by Aminu Gabari.

During the summary trial on Wednesday, the court found Mr Yusuf 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 option of fine.

Although the song was meant to praise the Emir of Kano Muhammadu Sanusi II as the chorus implies, the singer lashed at the governor in some of the stanzas, saying the governor can sell his wife (Goggo) because of money.

The contentious lines read thus:
Kano governor has already turned blind,
I swear what you did is hurting us,
For lucre, governor is more than a thief
For lucre, governor can sell out Goggo