The National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, has firmly denied allegations that he once described President Bola Tinubu as a corrupt public official. Ribadu, through his lawyers, also refuted claims that he accused Senator George Akume and Senator Orji Uzor Kalu of embezzling public funds.
The NSA issued the clarification in response to allegations that, during his tenure as Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), he labeled the three politicians as the most corrupt governors in Nigeria.
Ribadu’s denial comes following a viral TikTok video by the leader of Northern Star, Hajia Naja’atu Muhammad, who accused him of contradicting his past stance by serving in Tinubu’s administration after allegedly accusing him of corruption.
Ribadu, however, categorically stated that he had never, either privately or publicly, accused Tinubu, Akume, or Kalu of corruption.
In a letter signed by his legal representative, Ahmed Raji (SAN), Ribadu demanded a public retraction and apology from Muhammad within seven days or risk legal action.
“Privately or publicly, our client has never expressed the above viewpoint about President Tinubu and/or Senators George Akume and Orji Uzor Kalu, which you attributed to him,” the letter stated.
It further read: “In fact, our client has never held such a viewpoint about the President; hence, it came as a complete surprise to him when his attention was drawn to the aforesaid publication by you against him.”
Ribadu also challenged Muhammad to provide evidence to substantiate her claims, stating that her publication had falsely portrayed him as dishonest and deceitful.
“Our client hereby challenges you to provide evidence of your allegations against him, which have cast him as double-faced, duplicitous, and deceitful in the eyes of right-thinking members of society,” the letter asserted.
The NSA accused Muhammad of inciting public sentiment against him, warning that her statements could lead to violence.
“Your publication is inciteful of violence towards our client. Given this far-reaching ramification of your publication, our client will not sit back and watch his hard-earned reputation and goodwill destroyed,” the letter read.
Ribadu’s legal team further alleged that Muhammad’s statements were intended to damage his reputation by spreading false claims on social media, leading to widespread public ridicule.
“Your intention to bring our client to public ridicule, opprobrium, scorn, and shame is evident when it is considered that you deliberately caused same to be published on social media, where it has since gone viral,” the letter noted.
The NSA has given Muhammad a seven-day ultimatum to issue a public apology and retract her statement in at least five national daily newspapers. Failure to comply, the letter warned, would result in legal proceedings against her, where “exemplary damages will be claimed.”
The development has sparked reactions from political observers, with some questioning the origins of the allegations while others await Muhammad’s response to the legal demand.
