Two Nigerian lawyers, Ahmed Musa and Ridwan Yunusa, have denied any involvement in a petition that seeks to prosecute journalists Jaafar Jaafar and Umar Audu of the DAILY NIGERIAN newspaper. The petition, filed with the Chief Registrar of the Kano State High Court, alleges defamation against Abdullahi Rogo, Director General of Protocol at the Kano State Government House.
Musa and Yunusa say their names were fraudulently included in the petition by Hamza Dantani, a lawyer representing Governor Yusuf. The controversy originated from a DAILY NIGERIAN report that claimed the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had indicted Rogo for allegedly looting ₦6.5 billion. According to the report, the funds were transferred from the Kano State Government Federation Allocation Accounts to accounts of Bureau De Change operators in Abuja. Rogo filed a complaint, asserting that the report was defamatory and could incite public disturbance.
The petition, dated 27 August, listed several lawyers as counsel to the petitioner, including Mubarak Abubakar, Saadatu A. Mohammed, Ramla Abdulkadir Sani, Ahmed Musa and Ridwan Yunusa. Both Musa and Yunusa have since distanced themselves from the document, stating that their names were used without consent. Yunusa said he had never been part of the law firm that signed the petition and had not authorized the use of his name. Musa likewise denied involvement, explaining that he only became aware of the petition after Yunusa brought it to his attention.
The development underscores concerns about the use of legal proceedings to silence journalists and curb press freedom. The case against Jaafar and Audu is viewed as an attempt to intimidate and harass reporters who expose corruption and misconduct by public officials. Musa’s and Yunusa’s denials add further controversy, raising questions about the legitimacy of the complaint against the journalists. The outcome of the case will be closely watched, given its significant implications for press freedom and the ability of Nigerian journalists to report on corruption and misconduct.
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