Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Policy Communication, Daniel Bwala, has initiated legal proceedings against international broadcaster Al Jazeera in the United Kingdom, alleging that his interview on the network’s ‘Head to Head’ programme was selectively edited to damage his reputation.
Bwala disclosed the lawsuit on Thursday during an appearance on The Morayo Show, aired on MAP Studios. He confirmed that his legal team in England had filed the case after the Qatari-based network refused his demand for a public apology, despite having reportedly apologised to him privately.
The interview in question aired in March and featured Bwala in a tense exchange with host Mehdi Hasan. During the programme, Hasan confronted Bwala with several statements he had made while serving as a spokesperson for former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s 2023 presidential campaign. Bwala has consistently maintained that the final broadcast misrepresented his positions.
According to the presidential aide, the original interview lasted approximately 90 minutes, but only about 49 minutes were eventually aired. He argued that the editing process unfairly portrayed him and constituted defamation.
“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 stated.
The lawsuit adds to the public scrutiny surrounding Bwala’s political journey, which has seen him transition from a fierce critic of President Tinubu to a key administration spokesperson. During the 2023 election cycle, Bwala had been among the most vocal opponents of the then-candidate, at one point calling for his arrest over corruption allegations. He rejoined the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2026 after a meeting with the President at the Presidential Villa and was subsequently appointed to his current role.
Meanwhile, during the same broadcast, Bwala weighed in on Nigeria’s escalating security challenges. He argued that state governors should bear direct responsibility for kidnapping incidents within their jurisdictions, asserting that such crimes occur in local government areas under their supervision.
“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,” he said.
Bwala also disclosed that the federal government had released funds to states under the Safe Schools Initiative for security measures such as perimeter fencing and early warning systems. He urged Nigerians to demand accountability from their governors on how those funds were utilised, adding that some local governments in Oyo State receive up to ₦600 million monthly, which should be directed toward primary healthcare, education, and local security.
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