James Agberebi
National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, has threatened to file a defamation suit against Kano State Deputy Governor, Aminu Gwarzo, over the comment he made concerning the emirate tussle in Kano.
While reinstating Sanusi Lamido as Emir of Kano, Governor Abba Yusuf had directed all five Emirs affected by the new Kano Emirates Council Law to hand over to Gwarzo, who is also the Commissioner of Chieftaincy Affairs.
While the other Emirs complied with the directive, the deposed Emir Aminu Ado Bayero returned to Kano and went to a mini-palace in Nasarawa.
Reacting to Ado Bayero’s return to Kano, Gwarzo said it was orchestrated by Ribadu.
In a letter through his lawyers, Aliyu & Musa Chambers, Ribadu demanded an apology from Gwarzo.
READ ALSO: Ribadu denies assisting deposed Emir return to Kano
“We act as solicitors to Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, who presently occupies the exalted position of the National Security Adviser (“our client”) and on whose instruction we write this letter,” the letter reads.
“The attention of our client was drawn to a video clip being shared on different social media platforms wherein you granted an interview at Emir’s Palace in Kano on Saturday, the 25th day of May 2024, in a very calm atmosphere, and without any provocation whatsoever, falsely accusing our client of using his office to kill the people of Kano State and maim their properties. In the clip, you were shown to be saying in Hausa.”
They stated that Gwarzo’s false accusations against Ribadu, portraying his office as an appendage of a political party and a willing tool to cause chaos in Kano, are false and done with the intention of damaging the hard-earned reputation of our client in the eyes of the right-thinking members of society, and indeed it has succeeded in doing so.
They noted that in all the places the client has served, he has never been accused of any wrongdoing and that it is inconceivable that someone would harbour the thought that their client would descend his exalted office so low as to interfere in the local tussle of the Kano Emirate.
“Our client and his office take your allegations seriously and by this letter, our client is demanding that you provide irrefutable evidence to substantiate your claims. If you have no proof, our client demands you within 24 hours:
“i. retract the libellous allegation in a similar manner you made it as well as give it wide media circulation; and
“ii. issue a public apology in five National dailies with wide national coverage and on popular online platforms. Note that if you fail to do so, our client will be compelled to seek redress in a court of law.”
