“Consequently, we consider your publication on the matter as not only libelous but made in bad faith; an act of vendetta owing to your recent removal as the Chairman of House Committee on Appropriation.
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt Hon Yakubu Dogara, has given a colleague of his, Hon Abdulmumin Jibrin, seven days to apologise to him and retract all the recent allegations made against him, otherwise he will sue him.
Dogara’s lawyer, Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan (SAN), wrote to Jibrin stating the speakers demands, according to a statement by the Special Adviser on Media & Public Affairs to the Speaker, Mr. Turaki Hassan.
Referring to a press statement which Jibrin circulated entitled “The corrupt Speaker Yakubu Dogara and his 3-man cabal,” the speaker said that Jibrin portrayed him as “criminal, corrupt, dishonest, fraudulent, dishonourable and unfit to hold the position of Speaker of House of Representatives” without providing evidence.
Jibrin, the former chairman of the appropriations committee, had last week accused Dogara of corruption, diverting millions of naira for guest houses and official residence, budget padding, decision to divert N40 billion out of N100 billion budgeted for the House, among others.
The speaker’s lawyer said that Jibrin’s accusations has brought down Dogara in the estimation of right thinking members of the society and “he has been thrown into public opprobrium, odium, scorn and ridicule.”
“Consequently, we consider your publication on the matter as not only libelous but made in bad faith; an act of vendetta owing to your recent removal as the Chairman of House Committee on Appropriation. The said publication is also aimed at causing disaffection between Nigerians and members of the House of Representatives.
“Sequel to the above, we have to request you to submit immediately to us a clear and unqualified apology and retraction of the publication in an equally conspicuous position in all the print and electronic media where the publication appeared.”
He said that if Jibrin fails to comply with the demands withing seven days, a suit will be filed against him claiming “aggravated and exemplary damages.”
