Vice president, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, has petitioned the Inspector General of Police, IGP, Mohammed Adamu, over alleged defamation against him by one Jackson Ude, publisher of an online newspaper, Point Blank.
The online newspaper claimed that Osinbajo collected the sum of N4 billion from suspended Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ibrahim Magu, as bribe.
Although Osinbajo’s spokesman, Mr. Laolu Akande, had debunked the allegation, describing it as totally false, Osinbajo’s lawyer said it was necessary for the case to be investigated and necessary action taken against Ude to stop him from causing harm to Osinbajo.
The petition dated July 8, 2020, was written by Osinbajo’s lawyer, Taiwo Osipitan, reads in part:
“We act as Solicitors to Prof. YemiOsinbajo SAN, GCON, the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (“our Client”) and on whose instruction we write this Petition against one Jackson Ude for Criminal Defamation.
“These vicious and malicious publications are meant to achieve one objective only, to represent to his readership and others (Nigerians and Foreigners) that our Client is a dishonest and disloyal public officer and consequently unfit for the position of Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria which he is occupying.
“We are of the view that unless an action for criminal defamation is commenced against the said Mr. Jackson Ude, he will continue to use his social media platform to publish materials that are false and criminally defamatory of our client’s reputation.
“In view of the above, we humbly request that you cause the above allegations, made against our client, to be investigated and if the suggested investigation confirms our complaint of the falsehood of these allegations, to initiate criminal proceedings pursuant to the provisions of sections 391 – 395 of the penal code act for criminal defamation against the said Jackson Ude.”
In his denial, Akande said the publication against his boss was criminally defamatory.
His words: “With all emphasis at our disposal, let it be firmly stated that these are totally false and baseless fabrications purporting to reflect goings-on at the Probe Panel investigating Mr. Ibrahim Magu. They are indeed completely absurd in every respect.
“Sadly, such mindless, vicious and reckless publications have now become the preferred tool of unscrupulous and reprobate elements in our society who are procured with monetary inducement to peddle blatant falsehood, tarnish the image of upright public officials and mislead unsuspecting Nigerians.
“Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, will of course not be distracted by these obvious campaigns of lies and calumny. The online publications, being criminally defamatory in nature, have been referred to the relevant law enforcement agencies for investigation and necessary action.”
