Former Governor of Kogi, Yahaya Bello, has petitioned the Inspector-Common of Police, IGP, over alleged defamatory statements in opposition to him by suspended Sen. Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, (PDP-Kogi Central)
Within the petition, written and signed by his solicitor, N.A. Abubakar to the IG on Wednesday, Bello known as on the Nigeria Police Pressure to ask Sen. Akpoti-Uduaghan to substantiate her allegation in opposition to him with credible proof.
“The place she fails to take action, trigger her to be arrested and prosecuted in accordance with the provisions of the legislation for legal defamation, inciting public disturbance and spreading false info injurious to public peace,” the lawyer wrote.
He stated that the utterances made in opposition to the previous governor weren’t solely false, reckless and inciting, however “they represent critical legal defamation, false accusation and incitement to public dysfunction, all of that are offences beneath the Nigerian legislation.”
The previous governor has additionally written to Sen. Akpoti-Uduaghan, via his Counsel, Chief R.O. Balogun, SAN & Co, demanding retraction and public apology over defamatory statements made in opposition to him in two nationwide dailies, or face authorized penalties.
“Our Shopper’s consideration has been drawn to a most annoying, damaging and criminally defamatory assertion made by Sen. Akpoti-Uduaghan throughout her public tackle at a political occasion tagged ‘Homecoming Rally’ held on April 1, in Okehi LGA of Kogi .
“That whereas addressing attendees on the rally, Sen. Akpoti-Uduaghan falsely and maliciously stated that Senate President Godswill Akpabio despatched for Yahaya Bello. And it was truly Sen. Asuquo from Cross River that drove Yahaya Bello from Hilton Resort.
“She stated that she was knowledgeable of all the pieces and what she acquired to know of the assembly have been plans for her recall and that monies exchanged palms.
“The second factor she alleged was that Akpabio advised Yahaya Bello to be sure that she is killed …’
“That these utterances should not solely false, reckless and inciting, however they represent critical legal defamation, false accusation and incitement to public dysfunction, all of that are offences beneath Nigerian legislation,” Bello’s lawyer, Abubakar, wrote within the petition to the IG.
He stated Part 24(1)(b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, And so forth.) Act, 2015, penalises an individual who knowingly or deliberately sends false messages or info via a pc or community more likely to trigger hurt to the repute of one other particular person.
He stated that Sen. Akpoti-Uduaghan brought about movies of her assertion to be broadly circulated on-line the place it has continued to pattern until date with the clear intention of inflicting hurt to the repute of the previous governor.
This, the lawyer stated, is in opposition to the provisions of Sections 114 and 140 of the Penal Code (relevant in Northern Nigeria) – which criminalises giving false info with intent to mislead public officers or the general public.
“By accusing our shopper of plotting an assassination and naming him as a co-conspirator in a purported homicide plot (with an try and disguise the killing as mob or ethnic violence), Sen. Akpoti-Uduaghan has: broken our shopper’s repute.
“She has introduced his identify into disrepute on the idea of an allegation so weighty that, if left unchallenged, may hurt his political profession and private security,” the lawyer stated.
He urged the IGP to expedite motion on the petition.
Based on him, that is mandatory “to protect public order, safeguard the integrity of public discourse and shield harmless individuals from focused smear campaigns that may endanger lives or destabilise the peace of the state and nation.”
Mr Bello’s legal professionals, in a separate letter written to the embattled senator stated, “we hereby demand, on behalf of our shopper, that you simply difficulty a proper retraction of the stated defamatory statements, to be revealed in two nationwide dailies.
“It is best to stop and desist from making any additional defamatory statements regarding him, whether or not instantly or by innuendo, and whether or not revealed in print, digital or social media platforms.
“That you simply comply by way of the foregoing inside Fourteen days of the service of this letter on you.
“TAKE NOTICE that failure, refusal or neglect to adjust to the above calls for 14 days, from the date this Letter is served on you, our shopper will set the mandatory equipment in movement to provoke each civil and legal proceedings in opposition to you with out additional discover.”
NAN
