The Publisher of Daily Nigerian, Jaafar Jaafar, has raised the alarm of fresh threats to his life over videos showing Kano Governor, Umar Ganduje, allegedly receiving bribes in dollars.
The bundles of foreign currency were alleged to be kickbacks from contractors handling projects awarded by the Kano State Government.
There was outrage and calls for Ganduje’s resignation after the journalist published the clips in October 2018.
But Ganduje and his administration dismissed the authenticity of the video.
Information Commissioner, Muhammad Garba, said it was “cloned, doctored, disjointed” and deliberately released to “affect the anticipated quantum of APC votes” ahead of the 2019 election.
In an interview with BBC Hausa last week, the governor revealed they plan to deal with those who released the videos.
In a petition to the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, Jaafar, through his counsel, Abdullahi Gumel, said the Kano helmsman should be held responsible if anything untoward happened to him.
The petition protested that the publisher had been made a persona non-grata in his home state (Kano), while he and his family have been in hiding, living in fear.
The complaint said Ganduje’s latest comment was inciting against Jaafar, his family and property and had caused them unprecedented fear of violence.
The petition said being a sitting Governor and member of the ruling party, Ganduje is one of the most powerful politicians in Nigeria with has thousands of diehard supporters who might be inclined to attack our journalist.
“Sir, we believe you will agree with us that journalism and whistleblowing are not a crime. It is our clients’ belief that the footages they published, which they firmly stand by to this day, are genuine and the accompanying stories are truthful and a fair account of the circumstances surrounding the footages.
“Its worthy of note that Mr Ganduje has instituted an action for defamation which our client is vehemently and successfully defending in court. However, Mr Ganduje has apparently lost faith in the merit of his suit, hence, this unground planning that he said he is orchestrating.”
The lawyer urged the IGP to investigate what the governor is scheming, with whom and how and protect his clients from further harm and harassment from Ganduje and his supporters.
“Sir, we are aware that Mr Ganduje is a sitting governor and a member of the ruling party, but our clients hope that you will not let this inhibit your ability to handle his complaint professionally, diligently and speedily. The governor should be held responsible if anything happens to our client”, Gumel added.
The bundles of foreign currency were alleged to be kickbacks from contractors handling projects awarded by the Kano State Government.
There was outrage and calls for Ganduje’s resignation after the journalist published the clips in October 2018.
But Ganduje and his administration dismissed the authenticity of the video.
Information Commissioner, Muhammad Garba, said it was “cloned, doctored, disjointed” and deliberately released to “affect the anticipated quantum of APC votes” ahead of the 2019 election.
In an interview with BBC Hausa last week, the governor revealed they plan to deal with those who released the videos.
In a petition to the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, Jaafar, through his counsel, Abdullahi Gumel, said the Kano helmsman should be held responsible if anything untoward happened to him.
The petition protested that the publisher had been made a persona non-grata in his home state (Kano), while he and his family have been in hiding, living in fear.
The complaint said Ganduje’s latest comment was inciting against Jaafar, his family and property and had caused them unprecedented fear of violence.
The petition said being a sitting Governor and member of the ruling party, Ganduje is one of the most powerful politicians in Nigeria with has thousands of diehard supporters who might be inclined to attack our journalist.
“Sir, we believe you will agree with us that journalism and whistleblowing are not a crime. It is our clients’ belief that the footages they published, which they firmly stand by to this day, are genuine and the accompanying stories are truthful and a fair account of the circumstances surrounding the footages.
“Its worthy of note that Mr Ganduje has instituted an action for defamation which our client is vehemently and successfully defending in court. However, Mr Ganduje has apparently lost faith in the merit of his suit, hence, this unground planning that he said he is orchestrating.”
The lawyer urged the IGP to investigate what the governor is scheming, with whom and how and protect his clients from further harm and harassment from Ganduje and his supporters.
“Sir, we are aware that Mr Ganduje is a sitting governor and a member of the ruling party, but our clients hope that you will not let this inhibit your ability to handle his complaint professionally, diligently and speedily. The governor should be held responsible if anything happens to our client”, Gumel added.
