A court in Kano, Nigeria, has ordered an investigation into allegations of criminal defamation against the publisher of DAILY NIGERIAN, Jaafar Jaafar, and his staff member, Umar Audu. The case was filed by Abdullahi Rogo, the director-general of Protocol to the Kano State governor, who is currently under investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) for allegedly diverting N6.5 billion from the state treasury.

According to court documents, Mr. Rogo is seeking prosecution of the two defendants over publications made on August 22 and 25, 2025, which he claims tarnished his reputation with “false statements” injurious to his person and his principal, Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf. The publications in question reported on the alleged diversion of funds and described Mr. Rogo as a “thieving aide” to the governor.

The application, filed on August 28, 2025, accused Messrs Jaafar and Umar of criminal defamation and breach of public peace, offenses punishable under the Penal Code Law of Kano State. The court has directed the Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of Zone One to conduct a full-scale investigation into the allegations.

In addition to the criminal case, Mr. Rogo has also filed a civil suit against Mr. Jaafar and his online platform, DAILY NIGERIAN, demanding damages for defamation of character. The Kano State Government has denied the allegations, describing them as “a perpetual work of fiction” crafted by political opponents.

The investigation into the alleged diversion of funds is ongoing, with Mr. Rogo having already returned N1.1 billion to the state treasury. The case highlights the ongoing efforts to tackle corruption in Nigeria and the role of the media in holding public officials accountable. The outcome of the investigation and the court cases will be closely watched, as they have significant implications for the governance and accountability in Kano State.