In a move that’s already stirring debate on press freedom in Northern Nigeria, popular broadcaster Ibrahim Ishaq better known by his on-air name Danuwa Rano was summoned by the Nigeria Police Force’s Zone One Headquarters in Kano over allegations of defamation and operating an unlicensed online TV platform.
The complaint was lodged by Abdullahi Ibrahim Rogo, the Director-General of Protocol at the Kano State Government House, who claims reports on Danuwa Rano’s online platform, Danuwa Rano TV, damaged his reputation.
Significantly, the case comes amid ongoing high-stakes investigations by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) into Rogo, involving alleged contract irregularities worth approximately ₦6.5 billion and the recovery of over ₦1.1 billion thus far.
Meanwhile, journalists and civil-society groups are raising alarms, decrying the police action as a potential tool for intimidation and control of critical media voices in Kano.
As of now, neither the Nigeria Broadcasting Commission (NBC) nor the police have issued a formal statement regarding the alleged licensing violations or the interrogation.