The former Senator for Zamfara Central Kabiru Garba Marafa has issued a demand notice to Zamfara former Governor Abdulaziz Yari to retract a story posted by one of his media aides Al-mansoor Gusau over allegations of donating N700M to him for the 2023 campaign.
Marafa in a notice circulating on the social media through his counsel Dr. O. J. Onoja a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) dated 21st May 2024 the letter stated that the move was informed by serious concern his friend and family members raised over the Facebook publication.
The letter stated that, Yari has never given such money before during and at any time to Sen. Kabiru Garba Marafa.
The letter further explained that “you are in possession of a damning video clip of our client, which you claimed that if released will diminish our client politically”.
“Suffice to say that no such video exists, as our client is a man of integrity who is above board in his personal and political dealings”.
“Nonetheless, you and the Director General of your media organization, hurriedly and maliciously made these ungraded statements intending to smearing the reputation of our client, knowing well that is not true”.
“This shows that it was a deliberate ploy by you and the “Director General” of your media organization not only to vilify our client but to subject him to public odium and ridicule through malicious media trial”.
The statement further added that “the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria actually forbid any individual from using and spending above the sun of N100M in any election, as it is a criminal offense to indulge in such activity”.
He alleged that the statement was made by the Director General was recklessly made to hold Sen. Marafa as a Thief, fraudulent and corrupt person as well as an untrained person lacking in discipline.
The statement also added that, the publication has portrayed Sen. Marafa as a morally bankrupt person, a personal lacking in transparency, honesty, and integrity as well as an ingrate, wicked and untrustworthy person.
The statement further affirmed that, “following your comments and online publication, the reputation of our client has been brought into disrepute”.
He added that, “right thinking members of the public now treat him with disdain as they no longer hold him in high esteem as a responsible legislator, person, or politician.
He noted that based on the emotional and reputational damage that the publication caused Sen. Marafa, the legal team demands for concrete evidence to be produced regarding the release of N700M to Sen. Marafa, produce the said video and all its content.
The legal team therefore alternatively demands for an immediate retraction of the broadcast made by airing the same on all the channels of the said publication, made publication in three national dailies retracting the libelous publication and broadcast, and a well publicized letter of apology to Senator Marafa.
The legal team also demanded for the payment of N7B as compensation for the injury caused to the Senator.
