The Kano State Police Command on Friday alleged that an elderly man featured in a viral video, who claimed to be the biological father of the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau I. Jibrin, was paid N1,000 to play the role.
The video, which circulated widely on social media, showed the elderly man appearing frail, hungry and unkempt as he claimed that Senator Barau had neglected him and failed to cater for his needs.
The Command’s Public Relations Officer, CSP Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, said in a video shared on his verified Facebook page that the emotional portrayal was allegedly staged with the criminal intent of defaming the Deputy President of the Senate.
Kiyawa disclosed that the command had arrested a young man suspected of arranging the video, alleging that he hired the elderly man to falsely present himself as Senator Barau’s biological father in an attempt to tarnish the lawmaker’s reputation.
According to the police, the elderly man admitted during interrogation that he was given N1,000 to participate in the production and make the claims contained in the video.
The Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, said the suspects had expressed regret over their actions during interrogation but warned that the command would not treat the matter lightly.
He said the police would “visit the full wrath of the law” on those responsible, stressing that the action was necessary to deter others from using social media to spread content capable of damaging another person’s reputation.
Kiyawa said investigations were ongoing and assured that the suspects would be arraigned in court once the investigation was concluded.
The command also cautioned members of the public against believing or circulating sensational social media content without first establishing its authenticity, particularly where such material is capable of causing reputational harm.
Police allege man paid N1,000 to pose as Deputy Senate President’s father