Alleged Bribery: Jafar appears before panel, admits breaching Code of Ethics

The Publisher of the Daily Nigerian, an online media, Jafar Jafar, on Thursday, appeared before the Kano State House of Assembly Investigative Panel on the $5 million bribery allegation against Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje.

Jafar, while answering questions from the members of the investigative panel, admited to have breached code of ethics governing the journalism profession.

According to him, the controversial video clips which were in his possession for the past two years, were released into the public domain without contacting the state government for its reaction for a balanced investigation.

Responding to questions from Kano State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Ibrahim Muktar, the Publisher said: “I did not meet any government official to balance the story.”

Jafar, who refused to disclose his source, simply said that a whistle blower, someone he knew gave him the video clips after confiding in him that Ganduje is in the habit of collecting bribes from 15 to 30 per cent from contractors executing various projects in the state.

Speaking on the authenticity of the video clips, Jafar claimed that, “we invited the officials of the Amnesty International who certified the video.”

The chairman of the investigative committee, Dan Agundi, however, said Jafar would be invited for further questioning while insisting that the Committee would want to have talks with the said whistle blower whose identity would not be made public.

He added that, “we will invite Jafar and his lawyers again; we will give the Governor’s side the right to analyse the video.

“We shall also bring independent experts not known to Jafar and the Governor to also analyse the video. We will invite all the parties and our own independent experts to look at this issue. We are here to ensure that justice is done to everybody involved in this issue.”

Jafar, however, said he will have to consult with his solicitors to ensure if providing the whistle blower before the Committee is within the ambits of the law.

The Kano State House of Assembly premises was beseeched by supporters in their thousands displaying various placards portraying the Publisher as a serial liar whom they said is well known for his blackmail antecedents.

Jafar is also accused of being affiliated to a political movement (Kwankwasiya) which to many, would affect his judgments.

Meanwhile, A.A. Umar and Co, a law firm who initially agreed to offer legal services to Jafar Jafar, publisher and the Editor-In-Chief of the Daily Nigerian, withdrew their services in a letter sent to the Committee, citing “personal reasons.”