Embattled Governor of Kano State, Abdullahi Ganduje has taken a rather bold step and slammed a N3bn suit against an online newspaper, Daily Nigerian alongside its publisher Mr. Ja’afar.
Governor Ganduje is suing the online newspaper and its publisher for defamation of character, slander and libel.
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Daily Nigerian had published a story of fraud against the governor and backed it up with a series of videos showing the governors allegedly receiving bribes in foreign currency.
According to a Writ of Summons dated November 13, 2018, the defendants are expected to appear before the High Court 13, sitting in Kano within 14 days.
Governor Ganduje, filed the suit through his counsel Nuradeen Ajagi and prayed the Court to declare that;
“The act of publishing and circulating libellous statements, false and doctored video clips attacking and impugning the character and integrity of the plaintiff amount to defamation of character of the character plaintiff by the defendants and thus wrongful.
Outright and unqualified imputation of theft, fraud, corruption and dishonesty which are all criminal offences by the defendants’ publication against the plaintiff without any conviction by a court of law, is slanderous, libellous, injurious and wrongful.”
The Governor’s counsel thereafter added that his client, Ganduje is entitled to damages against the defendants for defamation of character by way of libel and slander.
Ganduje’s counsel then asked for an order compelling the Daily Nigerian and its Publisher to write a public apology to the plaintiff and broadcast such apology through their online platforms and other news media with global accessibility.
Daily Nigeria last month, published a story, accompanied with video clips, alleging that Governor Ganduje collected $5 million bribe from some contractors.
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There has been five of such video clips circulation in the Nigerian media even as President Buhari heaped praises on the Kano state Governor to the dismay and outrage of Nigerians.
The Kano State House of Assembly had started a commission of investigation and inquiry against Ganduje. They were however ordered to stop the probe by a court order after taking live testimonies from the publisher of Daily Nigerian who submitted more video evidence to the State Assembly.