By Ayo Kehinde
Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, National Security Adviser, NSA, has demanded a retraction of a defamatory publication by the Edo State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Dr. Anthony Aziegbemi, accusing him of donating $2b to the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Senator Monday Okpebholo towards rigging the September 21 governorship election in Edo State.
Apart from the retraction in various forms and on different platforms, the NSA also demanded N10 billion in compensation to avoid litigation.
This was contained in a statement by Ribadu’s lawyers, Charles Musa & Co, dated September 14 and titled ‘Defamatory Publication against Mallam Nuhu Ribadu.
According to the statement, the said publication captioned “$2m was ordered to be released to the APC candidate by the NSA to buy votes and bribe security agencies,” constitutes a malicious and libelous statement that “has brought our Client into public disdain and odium.”
“Given the extensive damage your false and baseless allegations have caused
our client, we demand:
1. A written apology to our Client.
2. A full retraction of the publication in its entirety.
3. Publication of the retraction in:
– A full-page advertorial in at least five nationwide newspapers.
– Ten reputable and well-read online news sites.
– Seven national and international television stations.
– Ten radio channels with national and international reach.
4. Payment of N10,000,000,000 (Ten Billion Naira) as damages for reputational and other injuries.
Take notice that if our demands are not met within seven days, we shall
proceed with our Client’s further instructions, including taking legal action to enforce his rights”
