By John Ikani
Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State has filed an application before the state High Court, seeking the discontinuation of the ongoing trial against the publisher of DAILY NIGERIAN, Jaafar Jaafar over the Dollar videos published on the online news platform.
It would be recalled that Ganduje dragged Jaafar to court in 2018 over a story Daily Nigerian published titled: “EXCLUSIVE: NIGERIAN GOVERNOR CAUGHT ON VIDEO RECEIVING $5M BRIBES,” and other follow-up stories in the same website which the governor said are defamatory against him.
It will also be recalled that the Publisher of Daily Nigerian, Jaafar Jaafar has relocated to the United Kingdom over alleged several threats to his life.
Mr Ganduje, in a new application, asked the Kano State High Court to discontinue the case but gave no reasons for the application.
The Governor’s former media aide, Salihu Tanko, was initially one of governor’s witnesses in the case.
He was, however, sacked on February 27 for criticising President Muhammadu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) on Twitter.
In the application, dated June 28, 2021, Mr Ganduje’s lawyers, led by Chief E.O.B Offiong, SAN, sought the following orders from the court:
“…An order granting leave to the Plaintiff/Applicant to discontinue his claims in Suit No K/519/2018 against the defendant before this Honourable Court.
“An order discontinuing Plaintiff/Applicant’s claims in Suit No K/519/2018 against the Defendant in this Honourable.
“And for such further or other Order(s) as this Honourable Court may deem fit to make in the circumstance of this case.”
The application, supported by a four-paragraph affidavit deposed to by C. N. Obile Esq stated that “the matter is yet to proceed to trial and the Plaintiff/Applicant now intends to discontinue this action before this Honourable Court.
“That by the Rules of this Honourable Court, where a defence has been filed and a plaintiff wishes to discontinue his action, leave of court is required to discontinue, hence this Application.”
