Ganduje Video: Jaafar
Ganduje Video: Jaafar Bags Integrity Awards… SERAP Seeks
Security Protection
Jaafar Jaafar, the publisher of Daily Nigerian, an online medium
that released video clip portraying Governor Umar Ganduje of Kano
state receiving bribes from contractors has bagged 2018 Integrity
Award for being recognized as anti-corruption champion of the
year.
Tagged ‘2018 Integrity Awards’, the award was organised by Youth
Alive Foundation, YAF, a duly registered non-governmental
organization working to provide a platform that harnesses and
nurtures young people through informed, innovative and value driven
approaches for personal, community and national development.
With funding from UKAID through DFID, Nigeria’s support to
Anti-corruption in Nigeria (ACORN) program, YAF is leading a
consortium of partners to implement the Strengthening Youth
Participation Against Corruption project (YPAC).
In the words of the organisers, Mr Jaafar deserves the award for
being considered as a man of integrity because of his doggedness
and bravery for exposing corrupt practices irrespective of who is
involved.
The Head of Programmes YAF, Usen Asanga said “Jaafar acclaims
his conscience as being his greatest role models in the profession
and believes in the power of investigative journalism as a means to
ensure the truth is on earth and leaders are put to task.
“As part of interventions under the YPAC project, YAF is working
with stakeholders across sectors to revitalize integrity, good
character and other national values as a counterculture or new
norm.
“It is against this background that YAF organised the Integrity
Awards to identify and celebrate deserving citizens and groups who
have made outstanding contributions in terms of exemplary acts of
integrity, and other inspiring contributions to the fight against
corruption in Nigeria, via awards.
“The goal and inherent intention of integrity Awards is not only
to reshape norms that sustain corruption, but also to build a new
culture and consciousness that highlights integrity, selflessness
and patriotism as hallmarks of national growth, development and
progress.”
Commending the organisers for recognising him for the award,
Jaafar Jaafar added that as a Journalist he had played his part in
exposing corrupt practices and called other stakeholders to take it
up.
“While I must commend the organiser for this honour, I must
state that the role of a journalist ends at exposing ills in the
society while other arms of govrernment, especially law enforcement
agencies and judiciary should take it up and play their parts to
the conclusion,” he said
Other awardees at the event included retired President of the
Court of Appeal, Justice Isa Ayo-Salami; founder of Brekete Family
FM station, Ahmed Isah; Freedom Radio presenter, Nasir Zango; an
FRSC officer, Sikiru A.Aduloju, Bayero University Kano lecturer,
Malam Mu’azu Yusif, Nigerian Police officer, CSP Francis Osagie
Erhabor and an activist Soji Apampa.
Meanwhile, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project
(SERAP) has sued President Muhammadu Buhari over “failure to direct
the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice
Abubakar Malami, SAN, and/or appropriate anti-corruption agencies
to investigate allegations of bribery against Governor Abdullahi
Ganduje of Kano State, as contained in the widely circulated video
clips allegedly showing Mr Ganduje receiving bribe.”
The organisation also sought protection for the journalist,
Jaafar Jaafar, who reportedly published the video clips.
However, SERAP said since the receipt of its letter and to date,
President Buhari has failed to grant its requests. Also, a Kano
State high court last week stopped the Kano State House of Assembly
from investigating the $5 million bribery allegation against Mr
Ganduje.
Consequently, in the suit number FHC/L/CS/2055/18 filed last
Friday at the Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos, SERAP is seeking
“an order for leave to apply for judicial review and an order of
mandamus directing and/or compelling Mr Buhari to immediately
direct the investigation of allegations of bribery against Mr
Ganduje.”
SERAP said: “The Applicant’s requests are not onerous but simply
based on issues of public interest, good governance, transparency
and accountability. It is in the interest of justice to grant this
application, as the Respondent has nothing to lose if the
application is granted.”
The suit is also seeking an order to compel Mr Buhari to
“instruct appropriate security and law enforcement agencies to
ensure the protection and guarantee the safety and security of
journalist Jaafar Jaafar.”
No date has been fixed for the hearing of the suit.
By PRNigeria