Nigerian presidential aide sues Al Jazeera in UK over interview editing

Daniel Bwala, a Special Adviser to Nigeria's President Bola Tinubu on Policy Communication, has initiated legal action against Al Jazeera in the United Kingdom. Bwala alleges that the broadcaster selectively edited his interview on the 'Head to Head' program hosted by Mehdi Hasan, resulting in a misrepresentation of his views and damage to his reputation.

Speaking on The Morayo Show, Bwala stated that only 49 minutes of his 90-minute interview were aired. He revealed that while Al Jazeera apologized to him privately, they refused his request for a public apology. Consequently, he instructed his lawyers in England to file a lawsuit, which his UK-based advisors identified as a defamation of character case. The interview, aired in March, had drawn significant attention as Hasan confronted Bwala with past statements made during his time as a spokesperson for former Vice President Atiku Abubakar's 2023 presidential campaign.

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They apologised to me privately. I said they should put it on social media. They said they will not. So I instructed my lawyers in England to go to court. The case is currently in court… my advisers in England said it’s a defamation of character.

Bwala also addressed Nigeria's ongoing security challenges, asserting that state governors should be held responsible for kidnappings occurring within their jurisdictions. He questioned the allocation and utilization of funds provided to states under the Safe Schools Initiative, suggesting that governors should explain how these funds were spent. Bwala pointed to substantial monthly allocations received by some local governments, arguing these funds should be directed towards improving primary healthcare, education, local security, and welfare programs.

Furthermore, Bwala defended his decision to rejoin the All Progressives Congress (APC), a party he had previously left due to concerns about its Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket potentially marginalizing Christians in northern Nigeria. He indicated a shift in his political stance, though the article cuts off before detailing his full reasoning for returning to the APC.

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Every kidnapping and abduction that takes place in any state of Nigeria holds that governor responsible. Every local government, all the kidnappings have taken place in local government.