A Chief Magistrate Court in Kano has ordered the police to open a full investigation into allegations of criminal defamation against the publisher of Daily Nigerian, Jafar Jafar.
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A statement released by the governor’s spokesman, Sanusi Dawakintofa, said the order followed a complaint filed by the Director General of Protocol at Kano Government House, Hon. Abdullahi Ibrahim Rogo, who accused Jafar and another defendant, Audu Umar, of damaging his reputation through publications in August 2025.
Presiding over the case at Court 15 in Nomansland, Chief Magistrate Abdul’aziz M. Habib directed the Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of Zone One to conduct a detailed probe into the matter. The directive was contained in an order signed by the court registrar on August 28, 2025.
Rogo, in his complaint, alleged that the Daily Nigerian stories of August 22 and 25 described him in a manner that portrayed him as corrupt and unfit for public office. One of the reports carried the headline: “Gov. Yusuf Defends Thieving Aide, Says Protocol Directorate Under Ganduje Spent N20 Billion in 3 Months”. Another story was titled: “Court Documents Reveal How ICPC, EFCC Traced N6.5 Billion to Gov. Yusuf’s DG Protocol.”
According to the complaint, the reports were not only false but were crafted to tarnish both his image and that of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf. He charged the defendants under sections 106 and 107 of the Kano State Administration of Criminal Justice Law 2019, and under sections 114, 164, and 393 of the Penal Code Law.
The two-count charges against Jafar and Umar include criminal defamation punishable under Section 393 of the Penal Code and breach of public peace, which falls under Section 114.
In addition to the criminal proceedings, Rogo has also instituted a civil suit at the Kano State High Court, seeking damages for alleged defamation.
He described the allegations against him as fabrications driven by political opponents determined to undermine his credibility through blackmail and propaganda.
