Anthony Aziegbemi, the head of the Peoples Democratic Party in Edo, accused National Security Advisor Nuhu Ribadu of election tampering. Aziegbemi claimed that Ribadu and the State Security Service were used by the federal government to rig the Edo gubernatorial election, with Ribadu giving $2 million to the APC candidate. Ribadu’s attorneys, Charles Musa & Co., criticized the accusation as “totally false” and demanded an immediate retraction.
“We are responding to your press release headed “Edo 2024: presidency’s plot to influence, manipulate guber vote using DSS, NSA discovered” on behalf of Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, National Security Adviser (NSA) of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (our client).
The letter stated, “Among other false allegations made by the publication, $2 million was ordered to be released to the APC candidate by the NSA to buy votes and bribe security agencies.”
The attorneys claimed that their client was now the target of public scorn and hatred due to the vile and defamatory remark.
The letter claims that Mr. Ribadu’s reputation will be harmed by the misleading portrayal of him as a supporter of corruption and his administration as a tool of a political party eager to wreck havoc in Edo.
“Our client has continuously shown honesty and a dedication to combating corruption as a well-known career police officer and the founding Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
It seems unfathomable that he would partake in such repugnant activities. We seek a written apology from you and the complete retraction of the publication, considering the great harm your unfounded and fraudulent accusations have caused our client.
We further demand that the retraction be published as a full-page advertisement in ten respectable and well read online news outlets; seven national and international television stations; and ten radio channels with a national and international audience, according to the letter.
In addition, the attorneys sought N10 billion in damages for harm to their clients’ reputations and other grievances.
They said, “Take notice that we will follow our client’s further instructions, including taking legal action to enforce his rights, if our demands are not met within seven days.”
