Isa Pantami, minister of communications and digital economy,
has written to the publishers of Daily Independent newspaper, demanding
retraction and a public apology over a story alleging that he has ties to Boko
Haram.
The minister’s action follows the publication of an
unconfirmed report, alleging that the he is on the watchlist of the United
States for his connection to insurgents.
Speaking through his legal representatives, Karina Tunyan
& Company, in a letter on Monday, Pantami issued a 24-hour ultimatum to the
newspaper to retract the story or face legal consequences.
He also demanded that the newspaper tenders a public apology, which should be published in renowned print and online media platforms.
The lawyers described the report as a “false, malicious,
misleading and degrading narrative simply targeted at tarnishing and bringing
the good name of our client and that of the administration of President
Muhammadu Buhari to disrepute”.
“That you are hereby given a 24-hour notice from the date of
receipt of this letter to categorically retract your libelous statement made
against our client,” the letter reads.
“That the said retraction and letter of apology be published
in at least 5 print media circulated nationwide and 5 different renowned online
media outfits across the globe.
“That you convene a press conference to publicly announce
your retraction while dissociating our client from the false claims you made
which are seriously injurious to our client’s personality.”
According to the lawyers, failure to comply with the
minister’s demands within the stipulated time will lead to the commencement of
legal proceedings against the paper and all persons involved.
The inspector-general of police, director-general of the
department of state security (DSS), and the National Intelligence Agency (NIA)
were copied in the letter.
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