HC Deb 20 October 1954 vol 531 cc1206-8
33. Sir R. Acland

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the result of the prosecution of Aminu Kano, one of the leaders of the Hausa Nationalist Movement and N.E.P.U., for publishing an article with seditious intent; what sentence was imposed; and whether he will put in the Library of the House a translation of the essential passages in the article or articles on which the charge was based.

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

Aminu Kano was convicted in the Kano Magistrate's Court on two counts under the Criminal Code of writing and publishing a seditious article in Hausa in the "Daily Comet" newspaper. He was fined £25 on each count. He has paid the fine. The charges were based on the article as a whole. I am placing a translation in the Library of the House.

Sir R. Acland

Is the Minister aware that I have received a copy of this article and that there does not seem to be anything in it other than the fact that this man does not like Europeans and wants to get them out of the country? Is this something which Africans are not to be allowed to express in the future, under penalty of a £25 fine?

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

As this is a judicial matter, it would be quite improper for me to comment upon it.

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