ASUU Demands Fair Hearing for ABU Lecturer Arraigned in Katsina

The Northwest Zone of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has criticised the way a university lecturer has been treated after speaking out about insecurity in Katsina State. The union says academics should not be pushed into silence for sharing views on issues that affect the public.

The lecturer is Dr. Kurfi of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria. He was reportedly arrested by personnel of the Department of State Services (DSS) and arraigned before the Katsina State High Court on October 13, 2026, over a statement he made about insecurity in the state. He was later granted bail, and the case was adjourned to October 16.

What the union is saying

The zone’s chairman, Professor Abubakar Sabo, spoke to journalists in his office on Wednesday. He said ASUU supports the rule of law, but warned that enforcing the law should never become a way to silence dissenting voices or weaken academic freedom.

His main worry is that government agencies are being used to intimidate academics, at a time when residents are already traumatised by insecurity and economic hardship. He urged the Katsina State Government to focus on those problems, along with challenges in the education sector, instead of taking steps that could discourage lecturers from speaking up.

Keeping watch on the case

Sabo said representatives from ASUU branches across the Northwest Zone attended the court session and will keep following the proceedings. The union wants to know exactly how Dr. Kurfi is being treated and whether his rights are protected.

He made clear that ASUU is not asking for special treatment. If the allegations against the lecturer are established through a fair hearing, he said, the union will respect the court’s decision. But if its own observations show he was treated unjustly, ASUU says it will not be intimidated and will take the matter to the next level.

A message to the judiciary

The union also called on the courts to decide the case on its merits. Sabo warned that any sense that justice was denied could damage public trust in the legal system, and he reminded the public that Nigerians are watching. As he put it, “Justice to one is justice to all.”

ASUU says it remains committed to protecting the rights of university lecturers and defending academic freedom, fairness, accountability, and the rule of law.