Emefiele Allegedly Threatens Akpabio With N25 Billion Lawsuit For Defamation — Reports
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| Godswill Akpabio, Senate President and Godwin Emefiele, Former Central Bank Of Nigeria (CBN) Governor |
Emefiele threatens Akpabio with N25bn lawsuit over alleged defamation
Godwin Emefiele, the embattled former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), has vowed to sue Godswill Akpabio, the president of the Senate, for alleged defamation.
Emefiele would demand N25 billion in damages from the Senate President in the event that an apology was not given, according to his legal counsel.
A “we don't know what to charge Emefiele with” statement attributed to Akpabio on February 18, 2024 was criticized by Emefiele's attorney, Matthew Burkaa, in a letter to the Senate President dated February 19, 2024.
The Senate President said that Emefiele left the Nigerian economy in a mess and that the federal government is unsure of what charges to bring against the former head of the country's top bank during a thank-you ceremony held on Sunday in Koroma, Tai Local Government Area, Rivers State.
However, Emefiele claimed in his letter to the Senate President that Akpabio had implied in his statement that “the policies of the previous administration are the cause of the entire hardship in Nigeria today.”
According to the statement, Emefiele was portrayed as “A serial offender whose actions are responsible for all the hardship experienced by Nigerians today.”
“A person who has committed offences that are so numerous that the government is confused as to which of the offences to prefer a charge against him.”
He said that Akpabio, the former head of CBN, had been charged and was presently defending himself in court, accusing him of subjudice.
He expressed concern that Akpabio, as the leader of the legislature, should have been aware that his remarks compromised the independence and credibility of the judiciary.
“You are also aware that no single policy was carried out by Our Client without the approval, directive or authorization of the President and/or the Federal Executive Council of which you were a key and powerful member.
“It is pursuant to the above and without delving into the matter presently pending in Court that Our Client has instructed that we write to Your good offices and demand the immediate retraction of Your statement which has gone viral and are considered clearly defamatory of Our Client
“These baseless and false allegations clearly defames the character of Our Client and has also caused him great pains and embarrassment as it has lowered his esteem before the right thinking members of the Society in addition to the obvious odium and opprobrium from the unsuspecting members of the Society as a result of the falsity contained in that statement.
“We therefore have Our Client's further instruction to demand from you an unreserved apology in writing, published and circulated by the same medium with which you have defamed his character and the sum of Twenty-Five Billion Naira (N25,000,000,000) as reasonable compensation for the willful and unjustifiable denigration of his hard earned reputation.
“In the event that you fail, refuse or neglect to comply with this legitimate demand, Our Client will be at liberty to seek the appropriate redress available to him under the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“Whilst anticipating your compliance with the above, kindly accept the assurances of our best regards,” the letter read in part.
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