A fresh storm has erupted in Kano as a Chief Magistrate Court has ordered a full investigation into the publisher of Daily Nigerian, Jaafar Jaafar, and reporter Audu Umar over an explosive publication that accused a top government aide of corruption.
The case was triggered by a petition filed by the Director-General of Protocol at the Kano Government House, Abdullahi Rogo, who alleged that the newspaper falsely portrayed him as a “thieving aide” to Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf.
In the report published on August 25, Daily Nigerian claimed that Rogo mismanaged a staggering ₦6.5 billion in public funds, an allegation he insists is baseless and malicious.
Presiding Chief Magistrate Malam Abdul’aziz M. Habib directed the police to launch a thorough investigation to determine whether the journalists deliberately circulated false information with intent to damage Rogo’s reputation.
Read also:
- Federal High Court dismisses suit to stop Kano LG funds
- Kano Sharia Court sentences man to death for deadly mosque fire
- Court bars FG from tampering with Kano LG funds
The publishers now face the possibility of criminal charges bordering on defamation and public disturbance, with legal experts warning that the outcome of the probe could set a landmark precedent for press freedom and political accountability in Nigeria.
All eyes are now on Kano as the case unfolds.
