Former Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, has petitioned the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) over what he described as defamatory and inciting statements made against him by suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
In a petition signed by his solicitor, Mr. N.A. Abubakar, Bello urged the Nigeria Police Force to invite Sen. Akpoti-Uduaghan to substantiate her allegation against him with credible evidence.
“Where she fails to do so, cause her to be arrested and prosecuted in accordance with the provisions of the law for criminal defamation, inciting public disturbance and spreading false information injurious to public peace”, the lawyer wrote.
He said that the utterances made against the former governor were not only false, reckless and inciting, but “they constitute serious criminal defamation, false accusation and incitement to public disorder, all of which are offences under the Nigerian law”.
Bello has also written to Sen. Akpoti-Uduaghan, through his Counsel, Chief R.O. Balogun, SAN & Co, demanding retraction and public apology over defamatory statements made against him in two national dailies, or face legal consequences.
“Our Client’s attention has been drawn to a most disturbing, damaging and criminally defamatory statement made by Sen. Akpoti-Uduaghan during her public address at a political event tagged ‘Homecoming Rally’ held on April 1, in Okehi LGA of Kogi .
“That while addressing attendees at the rally, Sen. Akpoti-Uduaghan falsely and maliciously said that Senate President Godswill Akpabio sent for Yahaya Bello. And it was actually Sen. Asuquo from Cross River that drove Yahaya Bello from Hilton Hotel.
“She said that she was informed of everything and what she got to know of the meeting were plans for her recall and that monies exchanged hands.
“The second thing she alleged was that Akpabio told Yahaya Bello to make sure that she is killed …’
“That these utterances are not only false, reckless and inciting, but they constitute serious criminal defamation, false accusation and incitement to public disorder, all of which are offences under Nigerian law”, Bello’s lawyer, Abubakar, wrote in the petition to the IG.
He said Section 24(1)(b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) Act, 2015, penalises a person who knowingly or intentionally sends false messages or information through a computer or network likely to cause harm to the reputation of another person.
He said that Sen. Akpoti-Uduaghan caused videos of her statement to be widely circulated online where it has continued to trend till date with the clear intention of causing harm to the reputation of the former governor.
This, the lawyer said, is against the provisions of Sections 114 and 140 of the Penal Code , applicable in Northern Nigeria, which criminalises giving false information with intent to mislead public officers or the public.
“By accusing our client of plotting an assassination and naming him as a co-conspirator in a purported murder plot ,with an attempt to disguise the killing as mob or ethnic violence, Sen. Akpoti-Uduaghan has: damaged our client’s reputation.
“She has brought his name into disrepute on the basis of an allegation so weighty that, if left unchallenged, could harm his political career and personal safety”, the lawyer said.
He urged the IGP to expedite action on the petition.
According to him, this is necessary “to preserve public order, safeguard the integrity of public discourse and protect innocent persons from targeted smear campaigns that can endanger lives or destabilise the peace of the state and nation”.
Bello’s lawyers, in a separate letter written to the embattled senator said, “We hereby demand, on behalf of our client, that you issue a formal retraction of the said defamatory statements, to be published in two national dailies.
“You should cease and desist from making any further defamatory statements concerning him, whether directly or by innuendo, and whether published in print, electronic or social media platforms.
“That you comply in terms of the foregoing within Fourteen days of the service of this letter on you.
“TAKE NOTICE that failure, refusal or neglect to comply with the above demands 14 days, from the date this Letter is served on you, our client will set the necessary machinery in motion to initiate both civil and criminal proceedings against you without further notice”.
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