Jaafar Jaafar, a Nigerian journalist who exposed Kano Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje‘s “bribe video”, has fled the country to the United Kingdom over alleged threats to his life.
Jaafar, the founder of Daily Nigerian media company, published a controversial video clip showing Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje alleged receiving $5 million bribe from government contractors in October 2018.
Read Also: Video Of Kano Governor, Ganduje Allegedly Receiving Stacks Of Dollar Bribe Emerges
In the video, the governor was seen collecting the dollars before rolling them into his white dress, called “babanriga,” in one of a series of questionable deals allegedly struck over a span of several months.
The video damaged Ganduje’s reputation although it did not stop his reelection in 2019 and he also stopped the state assembly from probing the video.
Read Also: Kano Assembly ‘ Bows To Pressure’, Suspends Probe Of Ganduje
In an interview with PremiumTimes on Sunday, Jaafar revealed that he has relocated with his family and will not be returning to the country ‘until the coast is clear.’
The newspaper publisher, who was recently invited by the police over alleged defamation of the police chief’s character, said he will only return to Nigeria when the government can guarantee his safety.
Read Also: Why We Can’t Probe Governor Ganduje Over Bribe Videos Yet – EFCC
He stated;
I’ll be here until this regime can guarantee my safety and protect freedom of the press.
Publisher of Daily Nigerian reportedly fled to the UK barely a month after Governor Abdullahi Ganduje revealed that those behind a video of him allegedly collecting bribe which he described as “fake“, would be brought to shame.
READ ALSO: Ganduje Cannot Be Substituted, Cash Received Not Bribe – APC
On a BBC Hausa programme, ‘Afada Acika’, the Governor in March this year insisted the video was ‘cloned’ (manipulated).
He said;
The video is fake and we are preparing to prove that. But I cannot preempt what we are doing with regard to that. I am assuring you this video is fake and all those that are behind it would be put to shame.
Read Also: Kwankwaso Reveals What He Did Concerning Ganduje Bribe Video
However, Jaafar has insisted the video is authentic and according to the publication, independent checks showed the original video was not doctored.
Nigeria Police Force last month wrote to Jaafar inviting him for questioning and according to a letter signed by A.A Elleman, the head of Inspector General of Police Monitoring unit, Jaafar was accused of defaming the Inspector General of Police (IGP).
However, the letter did not state whether it is the present acting IGP, Usman Alkali, or his predecessor, Mohammed Adamu.
The journalist, has however, gone into hiding saying he was scared for his life.
Speaking from his hideout to the publication, he said “there was never a time he mentioned either the former or present IGP in any of his stories.”
Read Also: Despite Bribery Allegations, President Buhari Says Ganduje Is A Responsible Leader
He also accused the police of trying to arrest him upon arrival in its office, saying;
Police are trying to file criminal charges against me for publishing Ganduje videos. That I defamed the character of IGP is a bait to arrest, detain and file criminal charges against me. I wrote nothing against the former and the current IGP.
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