The Borno State governor’s son Umar Babagana Zulum, has denied the allegation of killing a Chinese citizen in an Indian nightclub.
He addressed this issue on Thursday, July 18, 2024, at the Government House in Maiduguri, labeling the claim as baseless and plot to tarnish his father’s image.
Umara, a student at a university in New Delhi, reportedly smashed a bottle of alcoholic drink on the Chinese man who showed interest in the same lady as the governor’s son.
The report said the incident happened two weeks ago, while Governor Zulum alongside the governors of Adamawa and Yobe states were in Pakistan, attending a post insurgency workshop.
But debunking the allegation at the Government House in Maiduguri on Thursday, suggesting that he was not in detention or in India at the moment, the governor’s son said his father was the target of those behind the murder allegation against him.
“Dear esteemed Nigerians, I am Umar Babagana Umara Zulum, I am here to address damaging falsehood that had been made against me.
“It has come to my notice, a baseless gossip accusation against me saying that I killed someone at a nightclub. This is not true. They want to tarnish my father’s name. I have been with my family since two months now, right in Maiduguri,” he stated.
Earlier, the state government through a statement issued by Abdurrahman Bundi, Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to Governor Zulum on New Media on Wednesday, had denied the allegation and further threatened legal action against the publishers of the alleged defamatory news against the governor’s son.
Bundi said none of the governor’s sons “was either arrested or charged with any crime, or involved in any unlawful activities anywhere.”
Bundi urged the public to exercise caution when consuming and sharing information on social media.
“We urge the public to exercise caution when consuming and sharing information, particularly when it comes from unverified sources and blogs instead of credible media outlets.
“We enjoin all media organisations to engage in responsible journalism of truth and factual verification while recognising the potential harm and psychological trauma the spread of false information might have caused the Governor’s family.”