A Kano court has ordered a thorough investigation into allegations of criminal defamation against Jafar Jafar, publisher of Daily Nigerian, and reporter Audu Umar. The case was filed by Abdullahi Rogo, Director-General of the Directorate of Protocol in the Kano Government House.
The complaint, citing provisions under the Administration of Criminal Justice Law and the Penal Code Law of Kano State, claims that the publication made false and damaging statements about Rogo, referring to him as a “thieving aide” to Governor Abba Yusuf. The August 25 edition of the online medium carried a report headlined, “Gov. Yusuf Defends Thieving Aide,” which allegedly accused the Protocol Directorate of reckless spending, including 6.5 billion naira linked to Rogo.
Presiding over the matter, Chief Magistrate Malam Abdul’aziz M. Habib directed the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in Zone One, Kano, to conduct a full-scale investigation. The defendants face two counts: criminal defamation and breach of public peace, as authorities seek to determine whether the statements were willfully and maliciously published.
