By Ishaya Ibrahim
The video making the round, and showing Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano state collecting what appears to be bribe money from a contractor, has all the technical configuration of a real footage, a tech expert has told TheNiche.
The video was published on the website of an online newspaper, Daily Nigerian, showing the governor collecting bundles of dollars and stuffing them into the pockets of his flowing gown, also known as ‘babanriga’ and some other large envelopes.
The newspaper said the governor had requested for the $5 million from a contractor who also recorded the pay off to the governor.
The Kano state government, speaking through the commissioner for information, Muhammed Garba, claimed that the video was fake.
“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 government said.
To verify the authenticity or otherwise of the video, TheNiche contacted a reputable technology firm to analyse the footage.
The chief executive officer we contacted, agreed to analyse the video on the condition that his identity be kept secret for fear of victimization. We agreed.
The result of his analysis: “The background is properly blended. This cannot be fake. The flow of body movement is also real. Our equipment also found that the video is raw. It has not been edited,” the expert said, concluding that the video is not doctored.
The Kano State government is still stuck to its gun that the video is fake and has threatened to sue the Newspaper and its editor, Jafar Jafar.
Jafar, on his part, has said he would gladly meet the government in court. He also alleged that he has more damning videos of the governor in compromising situations which he threatened to also release in due course.
However, the Kano State House of Assembly said it has commenced investigation to determine if the video is real or fake.
Insinuations about the Kano State House of Assembly lawmakers planning Ganduje’s impeachment because of the allegation were also rife.
The governor has said he is not losing sleep over the trending video.
