…Welcomes release on bail, seeks fair hearing at November 3 retrial**

By GARBA MUHAMMAD

The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has demanded justice and a fair hearing for 23-year-old Kaduna journalist, Farida Isiak, who was reportedly sentenced to four years' imprisonment or a ₦1.75 million fine over a Facebook post criticising the police.

Farida, a journalist with Nagarta Radio, allegedly criticised the detention of her parents following a dispute involving ₦100 change from a charcoal sale between her mother and a neighbour.

Her mother was reportedly arrested, while her father was allegedly detained when he visited the police station to secure her bail.

Farida subsequently went to the station, where she was accused of defaming the police through her Facebook post.

According to the NUJ, despite reportedly deleting the post and apologising, she was taken before a court in Kawo, Kaduna, where the prison term or fine was imposed.

However, lawyers intervened before her transfer to a correctional facility, and she was subsequently granted bail.

A retrial has reportedly been scheduled for November 3, 2026, although the NUJ statement did not clarify whether the initial judgment had been formally set aside or the precise legal basis for the fresh proceedings.

Reacting in a statement issued Thursday, October 22, NUJ National President, Alhassan Yahya Abdullahi, welcomed Farida's release but insisted that the legal issues surrounding her case remained unresolved.

The union called on the Kaduna State Commissioner of Police to investigate the circumstances surrounding her arrest and the reported detention of her parents.

It also urged judicial authorities to examine the court's jurisdiction, the fairness of the initial proceedings and the legal basis for the reported sentence.

"Public institutions must remain open to legitimate scrutiny. Criticism of the police or any other public institution should be addressed through lawful and appropriate procedures," the statement said.

Citing Sections 35, 36 and 39 of the 1999 Constitution, the NUJ stressed that personal liberty, fair hearing and freedom of expression must be protected.

The union maintained that journalists were not above the law but warned against using legal proceedings to intimidate citizens exercising their constitutional rights.

"Protecting Farida is not merely about defending one journalist. It is about upholding the constitutional rights of every Nigerian," Abdullahi stated.

The NUJ pledged to monitor the forthcoming proceedings and support efforts to ensure justice, accountability and press freedom.