M.J. Numa, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) representing the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, has issued a stern ultimatum to Aminu Abdussalam, the Deputy Governor of Kano State.
In a letter dated May 27, 2024, Numa demanded that Abdussalam provide substantial evidence within 24 hours to support his claim that Ribadu facilitated the return of the dethroned Emir, Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero, to Kano.
Abdussalam had alleged during a brief interview at the Emir’s Palace in Gidan Rumfa that Ribadu had assisted the deposed Emir in returning to Kano last Sunday. He further insinuated that the motive behind the assistance was to instigate violence and destruction of property.
Numa’s letter instructed Abdussalam to retract his “libellous allegation” in a manner similar to how it was made, ensuring wide media circulation.
Additionally, Abdussalam was urged to issue a public apology in five national newspapers with extensive national coverage and on popular online platforms.
The letter warned that failure to comply with these demands would compel Ribadu to seek legal recourse through appropriate channels.
The letter partly read: “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 (translated): “The former governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, is not happy with the peace and understanding being enjoyed in Kano and is using the office of the National Security Adviser to deploy security personnel to subvert the will of Kano people and to bring something the people don’t like.
“The National Security Adviser has provided two planes to bring the former Emir to Kano. What we failed to understand is the reason behind his actions. The intent is to kill and destroy properties because they are not from Kano?”
“Your false accusations against our client portraying his office as an appendage of a political party and a willing tool to cause chaos in Kano is false and done with the intention of damaging the hard-earned reputation of our client in the eyes of the right-thinking members of the society and indeed it has succeeded in doing so.
“For the avoidance of doubt, our client is not in any way using his office for any political purpose. Our client was also not responsible for providing the plane that brought His Highness, Emir Aminu Ado Bayero to Kano.
“You have without any justification ridiculed the exalted office of the National Security Adviser, which our client occupies, by portraying it as a ready tool to be used by politicians to achieve political goals. You have also ridiculed the personality of our client who has built a reputation as a principled and honest citizen in both his public and private life.”
The letter further said that Ribadu, the pioneer executive chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), had, in all the places he has served, never been accused of any wrongdoing.
“Given this illustrious background, it is inconceivable that someone would harbour the thought that our client would descend his exalted office so low as to interfere in the local tussle of the Kano Emirate,” he said.
“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 to within 24 hours: retract the libellous allegation in a similar manner you made it as well as give it wide media circulation; and issue a public apology in five National dailies with wide national coverage and on popular online platforms.
“Kindly be advised that your failure to comply with this modest demand will compel our client to seek legal redress before the appropriate forum, irrespective of the immunity status you currently enjoy by virtue of your position as the Deputy Governor of Kano state,” the letter added.