A former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar on Monday threanted to
sue a leader of the Northern Elders Forum, Paul Unongo, for
accusing him of being a financier of the Miyetti Allah, an
association of cattle breeders.
Atiku issued this threat in a letter by his lawyer, Mahmud
Magaji (SAN), asking Unongo to retract “the blatant and malicious
falsehood” within seven days.
He also asked Unongo to publish the retraction in all national
newspapers.
Atiku asked Unongo to, within 30 days of receiving the letter,
pay him (Atiku) N200bn as damages.
The former Vice-President, in his letter, referred to the
publication on page 3 of Saturday PUNCH of January 6, 2018 (Vol.
7413), in which Unongo’s claims were reported.
Unongo had claimed that he had interacted with Atiku and knew
that the former vice-president was the most powerful person
financing Miyetti Allah.
Atiku has since denied the claim.
Part of the letter sent to Unongo read in part, “You made this
assertion even when you knew that in fact and in truth you never
had any such discussion with our client.
“The above allegations aside from being frivolous, callous,
baseless and unwarranted are utter falsehood and unjustified.
“Your mischief has gravely defamed our client and painted him in
very bad light as a sponsor and instigator of violence across the
country, a character you know he does not possess.
“Having given much of his life to the service of his country in
various capacities, rising to the enviable position of Vice
President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria from 1999-2007, our
client has continued to function as an elder statesman and
stakeholder in the nation’s polity whose core interests lie in the
general welfare and unity of the Nigerian populace devoid of
ethnic/religious divides.
“As you very well know those unwarranted allegations calling our
client the financier of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association
of Nigeria, an organisation you made out as the perpetrators of the
heinous and wanton destruction of lives and property in Benue State
in the recent past, is nothing but complete falsehood. Nothing can,
indeed, be farther from the truth.
“Take notice that our client takes strong exception to these
allegations and considers same as an act of character
assassination.
“Hence our instruction to:
“Demand of you and we so demand that you retract your
mischievous allegations and tender an unconditional apology to our
client, such apology should be published in all the national
dailies, not later than seven (7) days from the receipt of this
letter, inclusive of the date of receipt; and
“Pay to our client by way of damages the sum of N200bn not later
than 30 days from the receipt of this letter, inclusive of the date
of receipt.
“Take further notice that should fail, refuse and or neglect to
abide by our simple demands, we would have no choice than to
subject you to the regours of litigation and this we shall do
without any further reference to you.”
A former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar on Monday threanted to
sue a leader of the Northern Elders Forum, Paul Unongo, for
accusing him of being a financier of the Miyetti Allah, an
association of cattle breeders.
Atiku issued this threat in a letter by his lawyer, Mahmud
Magaji (SAN), asking Unongo to retract “the blatant and malicious
falsehood” within seven days.
He also asked Unongo to publish the retraction in all national
newspapers.
Atiku asked Unongo to, within 30 days of receiving the letter,
pay him (Atiku) N200bn as damages.
The former Vice-President, in his letter, referred to the
publication on page 3 of Saturday PUNCH of January 6, 2018 (Vol.
7413), in which Unongo’s claims were reported.
Unongo had claimed that he had interacted with Atiku and knew
that the former vice-president was the most powerful person
financing Miyetti Allah.
Atiku has since denied the claim.
Part of the letter sent to Unongo read in part, “You made this
assertion even when you knew that in fact and in truth you never
had any such discussion with our client.
“The above allegations aside from being frivolous, callous,
baseless and unwarranted are utter falsehood and unjustified.
“Your mischief has gravely defamed our client and painted him in
very bad light as a sponsor and instigator of violence across the
country, a character you know he does not possess.
“Having given much of his life to the service of his country in
various capacities, rising to the enviable position of Vice
President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria from 1999-2007, our
client has continued to function as an elder statesman and
stakeholder in the nation’s polity whose core interests lie in the
general welfare and unity of the Nigerian populace devoid of
ethnic/religious divides.
“As you very well know those unwarranted allegations calling our
client the financier of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association
of Nigeria, an organisation you made out as the perpetrators of the
heinous and wanton destruction of lives and property in Benue State
in the recent past, is nothing but complete falsehood. Nothing can,
indeed, be farther from the truth.
“Take notice that our client takes strong exception to these
allegations and considers same as an act of character
assassination.
“Hence our instruction to:
“Demand of you and we so demand that you retract your
mischievous allegations and tender an unconditional apology to our
client, such apology should be published in all the national
dailies, not later than seven (7) days from the receipt of this
letter, inclusive of the date of receipt; and
“Pay to our client by way of damages the sum of N200bn not later
than 30 days from the receipt of this letter, inclusive of the date
of receipt.
“Take further notice that should fail, refuse and or neglect to
abide by our simple demands, we would have no choice than to
subject you to the regours of litigation and this we shall do
without any further reference to you.”