Malami threatens lawsuit against online newspaper over reports alleging corruption

Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, on Monday threatened to sue the online media platform, Sahara Reporters over alleged libelous and defamatory publications against him.

In a statement issued by his Special Assistant on Media and Public Relations, Umar Gwandu, the AGF threatened to file a lawsuit against the news platform if it failed to retract recent reports published about him.

He said the reports had caused him considerable distress, psychological trauma, and anxiety.

The platform had reported on Saturday that Malami bought a N300 million mansion for his newly married son in Abuja.

It claimed that the AGF hired private jets to fly dignitaries from across the country to Kano for the second leg of his son’s wedding held last Saturday.

The platform added that Malami son’s wedding was lavishly conducted in breach of COVID-19 guidelines.

Just 24 hours later, the media organisation detailed how the AGF directed a firm, Omoh-Jay Nigeria Limited to dispose of the crude oil and diesel in four sea vessels through an open bid.

READ ALSO: My approval for auction of seized vessels legal —Malami

It also reported that Malami mandated the firm to sell five vessels through another approval knowing that the firm and its Managing Director, Mr. Jerome Itepu, had been arraigned for alleged theft of crude oil at the Delta State High Court, Asaba.

The statement read:

“Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, vowed to take legal action against Sahara Reporters on account of defamatory publications made against him.

“Malami said, the consequence of the criminal defamation published by Sahara Reporters, has subjected him to considerable distress, psychological trauma, anxiety and greatly injured his character and reputation, which is capable of lowering his estimation in the eyes of right-thinking persons in the society.

“He said since the 10th of July 2020 when the defamatory articles were first published, he has been receiving several telephone calls and visits from well-meaning Nigerians, his friends, well-wishers, and associates from all over the world including those he has dealt with/still dealing with in his official capacity as Nigeria’s chief law officer, many of whom have expressed serious concerns over the publication.

“Malami gave the medium a seven-day ultimatum to retract all the libelous and criminally defamatory publications against him and issue a public apology to be published on the platform and on the front pages of three national newspapers for three consecutive days.

“A senior lawyer has already been briefed to deal with the matter as may be appropriate, in the event of failure to retract the publication in question and offer the requested apology within the stipulated time.”

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now