Reactions have continued to trail the video of Kano state governor, Abdullahi Ganduje allegedly receiving ‘bribe’ from contractors.
The video published by Daily Nigerian, an online newspaper, showed the governor receiving bundles of dollars and putting them into his white dress known as ‘babanriga’ in the northern part of Nigeria.
The governor who debunked the video as “cloned” has threatened a sweeping lawsuit against its publisher.
In a statement by Muhammad Garba, commissioner of information, the government said it had decided to file a criminal case against Daily Nigerian.
“The Office of the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice is challenging the implausible and eccentric posting of the cloned video that went viral in a court of law considering the gravity of the caricature, which indicates the extent to which mischievous elements can go to discredit public figures by wielding non-existent scandals against them,” the statement reads.
“A mere observation of the cloned video clearly shows that the video is doctored and disjointed with no material facts or evidence to prove the allegations, other than a callous attempt to tarnish the hard earned image of the office and the person of the Governor.
“The Governor of Kano State wishes to once again emphatically debunk the allegation of receiving gratification of $5Million or any amount whatsoever from any person or body.”
But PREMIUM TIMES’ graphics experts who examined the video corroborated the position of Daily Nigerian, which earlier said its internal and independent graphics analysts have authenticated the clips.
In the only video published so far, the governor appeared to have received $230,000. Daily Nigerian said the $230,000 was part of a series of cash advancement to the governor in a total bribery deal of $5 million.
The published version was uploaded without audio, apparently to conceal the identify of the contractors from the public.
However, PREMIUM TIMES saw the version of the clip with audio on Sunday evening.
“I think you should collect this money before anyone walks in,” one of the contractors could be heard telling the governor. “I think you should put it on your body to conceal it with your babanriga.”
A brief laughter then erupted amongst them. The video was reportedly shot in one of the living rooms at the governor’s official residence in Kano, the state capital.
“MD will soon be back from Istanbul on Friday evening to give us the other allocations,” the contractor added after telling the governor he had concealed a total of $230,000 in his babanriga for the day’s transaction.
Meanwhile, Thelagostimes was able to get reactions to the story from some Nigerians on twitter.
Below are some of the tweets: