Publisher of Daily Nigerian, Jaafar Jaafar, has insisted that the vodeo clips showing the Kano State Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje allegedly collecting a bribe of $5m dollars from contractors was authentic.
He appeared before the Kano State House of Assembly on Thursday, at the commencement of investigations into the alleged bribery scandal.
Jaafar, looking confident and unperturbed before the lawmakers, insisted that the video clip had been authenticated by the Amnesty International, BBC and other computer graphic experts before he went to press with it,
Even though he would not divulge the source of the video clips, Jaafar, offered to bring in experts to confirm the authenticity of the videos.
According to him, “the message rather than the messenger is what is important.
Our correspondent who was present at the hearing reports that the Chamber of the Assembly, venue of the hearing was almost filled.
According to our correspondent, gaining entrance into the chamber was an uphill task as hoodlums threatened to ensure the hearing did not hold. However, he said the presence of security personnel from the DSS, Police, Civil Defence as well as armed soldiers kept them at bay.
The seven member panel had taken their place in the chamber as early as 11a.m, but Chairman of the panel informed them Jaafar’s flight had been delayed.
While the hearing was going on inside the chamber, some school children gathered outside the Assembly with placards against Jaafar.
Some of the placards read; “JAFAR your video will not stop us from voting Ganduje.”
The Attorney General of Kano led a team of 12 lawyers in defence of the governor.
Below is the statement by Jaafar at the hearing:
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I, JaafarJaafar, am a member of the Board of Directors of Penlight Media Limited, the publishers of DAILY NIGERIAN do hereby submit this statement in answer to the invitation extended to me by the Investigation Panel of the Kano State House of Assembly. Introduction 1. The DAILY NIGERIAN made a series of publications pertaining to the receipt of several videos of His Excellency the Executive Governor of Kano State, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje collecting of bribe/kickbacks from some contractors in Kano State.
2. Consequent upon the publications, we received an invitation dated October 18, 2018 with reference number KNHA/ADM/VOL .I/04 from the Kano State House of Assembly requesting us to appear before it in the conduct of its constitutional functions as contained in Section 129 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
READ ALSO: Breaking: Kano House begins investigation into $5m dollar bribery allegation against Ganduje
3. The invitation letter also requested that we submit a written statement containing the incidents pertaining to the investigation.
4. Below is the narration of our understanding of the events as it relates to the videos.
5. The videos: More than two years ago, a contractor friend of mine complained to me that the governor had been receiving kickbacks, ranging from 15 to 25 percent, for every project executed in the state from contractors.
6. We then agreed to plant spy cameras on his kaftan lapel so that he can capture the brazen act in hard evidence. He captured at least 15 clips, nine of which fully showed the governor’s face, body and hands collecting bundles of dollars.
7. Before DAILY NIGERIAN publishes stories, pictures or videos on its website (www.dailynigerian.com), the editors subject them to rigors of verification to establish their authenticity or otherwise.
8. In the case the video clips in question, our in-house technical expert, the editor-in-chief and editorial adviser certified that the videos were original and not doctored contents.
9. Experts from Amnesty International Nigeria, BBC and PREMIUM TIMES also watched the clips and certified their authenticity before we went to press.
10. The first video was published on October 14, 2018 comprising two clips that occurred on two different dates as shown on the videos themselves. The video showed the governor receiving bribe from a contractor in foreign currency specifically the monies were United States Dollar denominated. The video also showed his Excellency tucking these monies under his flowing gown and putting them inside an envelop.
11. We are willing to share the content of the video without any form of editing to assist the committee in its investigation and to share the full clips of the others that were published to the Committee in the cause of the performance of their legislative function.
12. We thank the Committee for deeming it appropriate to invite us to make representations before it in respect of this matter.
13. Thank you.
JaafarJaafar Editor-in-Chief Daily Nigerian
