Nuhu Ribadu, the national security adviser (NSA), has
threatened to sue Tony Aziegbemi over his comment that $2 million has been
allegedly released to influence the September 21 governorship election in Edo.
In a statement he signed on Saturday, Aziegbemi, chairman of
the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo, alleged that the party had uncovered
a plot by the presidency to influence the governorship election.
Aziegbemi alleged that the NSA had been ordered to release
$2 million to Monday Okpebholo, governorship candidate of the All Progressives
Congress (APC), “to buy votes and bribe security agencies”.
However, in a letter addressed to the Edo PDP chairman, the
NSA, through his lawyer, Marian Aigbedion, said the allegations made by
Aziegbemi are “libellous and malicious”.
Aigbedion said the Aziegbemi comments portray the NSA as a
“corruption enabler and his office as an appendage of a political party willing
to cause chaos” in Edo state.
“As a renowned career police officer and pioneer executive
chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), our client has
consistently demonstrated integrity and a commitment to fighting corruption,”
the statement reads.
“It is inconceivable that he would be involved in such
odious acts.
“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; payment of N10,000,000,000 (Ten Billion
Naira) as damages for reputational and other injuries.”
On Thursday, Aziegbemi also accused the police, under the
leadership of Kayode Egbetokun, the inspector-general of police (IGP), of being
biased towards the PDP.
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