… As Kano Court Orders Police Investigation on Criminal Charges
A Kano court has granted an order directing the Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of Zone One to conduct a full-scale investigation into the criminal charges against Mr. Jafar Jafar, the publisher of Daily Nigerian, a Kano-based online media platform.
The case brought before the Chief Magistrate Court No. 15, presided over by Malam Abdul’aziz M. Habib, was filed by the Director General, Directorate of Protocol, Kano Government House, Abdullahi Ibrahim Rogo, who dragged the publisher of Daily Nigerian, Jafar Jafar, and one Audu Umar before the Kano Chief Magistrate Court for alleged criminal defamation of character by describing him as a “thieving aide” to the Kano State Governor.
In a criminal complaint brought pursuant to sections 106 and 107 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law of Kano State 2019, and sections 114, 164, and 393 of the Penal Code Law of Kano State, the DG Protocol is seeking prosecution of the two defendants over publications made on the 22nd and 25th of August, 2025.
The application, filed on 28th August 2025 before Chief Magistrate Abdulazeez M. Habib of Court 15, Nomansland, Kano, accused Jafar and Umar of tarnishing his reputation in the eyes of the public with false statements essentially injurious to his person and his principal, Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf.
Daily Nigerian had on 25th August 2025 published a report with the headline: “Gov. Yusuf Defends Thieving Aide, Says Protocol Directorate Under Ganduje Spent N20 Billion in 3 Months”, alleged to have been deliberately, recklessly, and maliciously crafted to defame the complainant’s reputation.
Also cited by the complainant was another story published on 22nd August 2025 with the caption: “Court Documents Reveal How ICPC, EFCC Traced N6.5 Billion to Gov. Yusuf’s DG Protocol”, considered to be false and maliciously written to damage his hard-earned image.
The complainant subsequently mounted two-count charges against the defendants, bordering on criminal defamation—an offense punishable under Section 393 of the Penal Code Law—and breach of public peace, an offense punishable under Section 114 of the Penal Code of Kano State.
Meanwhile, the Chief Magistrate of Court 15, Nomansland, has directed the Assistant Inspector General of Police, Zone One, Kano, to launch a full-scale investigation into the alleged criminal defamation contained in the reports published by Daily Nigerian.
The order, signed by the registrar of the court, was issued on Thursday, 28th August 2025, following a complaint filed against the publisher of the online newspaper Jafar Jafar, still on the controversial 22nd and 25th August 2025 publications.
The Kano State Government had earlier defended the Director General Protocol on the allegation of withdrawal and diversion of ₦6.5 billion from the state treasury into individual accounts.
This was contained in a statement issued by Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf’s spokesman, Sanusi Bature, who attributed the allegations to the work of the opposition.
A second litigation against Jafar Jafar and his online platform, Daily Nigerian, was also filed as a civil case before the State High Court, demanding damages for defamation of character against Hon. Abdullahi Ibrahim Rogo.
The Police have been ordered to subject Jafar Jafar to a thorough investigation to ascertain why he allegedly defied the ethics of journalism by making conclusions on a pending investigation and describing someone as a “thief” merely because that person was under probe by the ICPC.
