Breaking! Ribadu demands N10bn damages from Kemi Olunloyo over false accusations

Piqued by alleged wrong accusations by a blogger, Kemi Lawrence (nee Olunloyo), Nigeria’s National Security Adviser, Malam Nuhu Ribadu on Monday demanded a retraction of allegations that he sold yahoo boys properties to human rights lawyer, Femi Falana while he was the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission(EFCC).

Kemi Olunloyo made the allegations in a video he posted on YouTube on September 27, 2024 wherein she alleged that Falana bought cars and houses from EFCC under the leadership of Ribadu.

In a letter written to Olunloyo by Ribadu’s lawyer, Charles Musa Chambers, and signed by Marian Aigbedion, the NSA is demanding N10 billion as damages, and a retraction of the video published in several online, radio, television and newspapers.

The letter reads:

30th September, 2024

Dr. Kemi Lawrence, nee Olunloyo

E-mail: kemiolunloyo444@gmail.com

Dear Madam,

DEFAMATORY PUBLICATION AGAINST MALLAM NUHU RIBADU

Re: YouTube video reference No.https://youtu.be/in1gvSBQ)0r8?si=TUXI9OtegjAnb8iN

We write on the instructions of Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, National Security Adviser(NSA) of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (“our Client”).

Our letter is with regard to your captioned YouTube video aired on 27th September, 2024 with the following captions “How Attorney Femi Falana allegedly bought stolen goods and property (cars and houses) from the EFCC for years during the Ribadu administration #Kemitalks Part

2”, “Femi Falana allegedly purchased seized EFCC cars and homes. He has a strong link with the agency”, “How Mr. Femi Falana bought houses and cars seized by the EFCC in the 90’s era. 

Politicians and Yahoo boys were ripped off. A human rights lawyer buying proceeds of CRIME” and “Can this allegation leveled against Bar Femi

Falana by Dr Kemi Lawrence nee Olunloyo be true that he bought Seized Properties & Cars from EFCC”.

The video slanderously and falsely alleges, amongst others, that our Client was selling assets recovered from yahoo boys in the 1990s by the Economic and

Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to Mr. Femi Falana SAN. Your video was replete with falsehoods including the following,

a.That the EFCC existed in the 90s: the EFCC was actually created by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission Act 2002. Our Client was appointed as the pioneer Chairman of the EFCC following its establishment in 2003.

b.That our Client was involved in the selling of properties (houses and cars) seized by the EFCC during his tenure as its Chairman: the truth is that during the five (5) year tenure of our Client as the Chairman of the EFCC,

NO seized or other property was ever sold by the EFCC. All the properties seized by it, including houses and cars, were forfeited to the Federal Government pursuant to Orders of Court which said Orders were granted pursuant to the EFCC Act 2003 which provided that seized properties were to be forfeited to the Federal Government. Indeed, the scope of duties of our Client whilst he was the Chairman of EFCC did not include selling of seized or other properties and the EFCC did not have such powers.

Consequently, our Client could not have sold any properties seized by EFCC to Mr. Femi Falana or any other person for that matter.

By this particular falsehood you have accused our Client of impunity in his discharge of official duties, gross abuse of public office and breach of public trust, inter alia, all of which he is innocent of.

c.That EFCC, under our Client’s Chairmanship, seized properties of Yahoo boys: the truth is that Yahoo boys were a much later phenomenon that came on the scene in Nigeria long after our Client had concluded his term as Chairman of EFCC.

Your malicious and slanderous video shared with your over 65,000 followers and with 26,000 views, and counting, as at the time of this letter, has brought our Client into public disdain and odium. By circulating the video with its libelous captions through, amongst others, a universal social media platform, you portrayed our Client to the world as a corrupt person and a corruption enabler during his tenure as the Chairman of the EFCC and one who should not be trusted even now.

You would appreciate that as a renowned career police officer, pioneer Executive Chairman of the EFCC and till date, our Client has consistently demonstrated integrity and a commitment to fighting corruption. He has received various awards both nationally and internationally in recognition of his stance and fight against corruption. The circulation of the video has grievously dented his reputation and goodwill garnered over decades of service to the nation and humanity as a whole.

Given the extensive damage your false and baseless video has caused our Client, we demand from you:

1.A written apology to our Client to be issued forthwith to him personally and on YouTube

2.A full retraction of the video in its entirety.

3.Publication of the retraction in: -You Tube

-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 N10,000,000,000.00 (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”.

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