The Kwara State Commissioner for Water Resources, Usman Yunusa Lade, is facing intense scrutiny and condemnation following the remand of journalist Tauheed Baruwa Muhammed, publisher of NUPEKOTV-Lafiagi. Muhammed's detention stems from a social media post in which he accused Commissioner Lade of a lack of transparency and accountability in the management of a significant water project in Lafiagi.

Commissioner Lade's reaction to the criticism further fueled public outrage. In a WhatsApp post shared on the same day as Muhammed's remand, Lade appeared to mock his detractors, stating: "What an irony! People who claimed to have evidence of me diverting public funds into personal use are now the ones launching petition for my removal when they can easily rely on their evidence in the court of law to pursue their case as promised." This post was made after Lade reportedly filed a complaint, alleging that Muhammed's Facebook post was defamatory and intended to damage his reputation, which led to the journalist's arraignment.

The Ilorin Magistrate Court ordered Muhammed's remand in prison custody on Wednesday, pending the hearing of his bail application. During the court proceedings, the magistrate instructed the journalist's counsel, Lere Abdul, to submit a formal written application for bail. The case has been adjourned to October 20, 2025, for further hearing on the bail application.

In response to these developments, the Take It Back Movement, Kwara State chapter, issued a strong condemnation of the journalist's remand at the Oke-Kura Correctional Centre in Ilorin. The movement characterized the charges against Muhammed as malicious and politically motivated, asserting that the Kwara State government was misusing taxpayers' money to oppress its citizens rather than promoting accountability and good governance within the state.

The group emphatically urged the state government to immediately discontinue what it termed a "shameful prosecution" of the journalist. They highlighted that the same matter is already being addressed as a civil case before the High Court, questioning the rationale behind the government's pursuit of further legal action. The Take It Back Movement also criticized the state for failing in its fundamental responsibility to protect citizens' rights and issued a stark warning against any attempts to suppress press freedom in Kwara State.