Embattled former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, has vowed to sue the Senate President Godswill Akpabio for alleged defamation.
Emefiele’s lawyer, Matthew Burkaa, in a letter to the Senate President dated February 19, 2024, faulted a “we don’t know what to charge Emefiele with” statement credited to Akpabio on February 18, 2024.
The Senate President at a thanksgiving service by Senator Barinada Mpigi in Koroma, Tai Local Government Area of Rivers State on Sunday, had said Emefiele left the Nigerian economy in a mess and the federal government does not know the charges to levy against the ex-apex bank chief in the eye of the storm.
However, in his letter to the Senate President, Emefiele said Akpabio had, in his statement, suggested that “The cause of the entire hardship in Nigeria today is as a result of the policies of the previous administration.”
It also said it portrayed Emefiele as “A serial offender whose action is responsible for all the hardship experienced by Nigerians today.
“A person who has committed offences that are so numerous that the government is confused as to which of the offences to prefer a charge against him.”
“You are also aware that no single policy was carried out by Our Client without the approval, directive or authorization of the President and/or the Federal Executive Council of which you were a key and powerful member.
“It is pursuant to the above and without delving into the matter presently pending in Court that Our Client has instructed that we write to Your good offices and demand the immediate retraction of Your statement which has gone viral and are considered clearly defamatory of Our Client
“These baseless and false allegations clearly defames the character of Our Client and has also caused him great pains and embarrassment as it has lowered his esteem before the right thinking members of the Society in addition to the obvious odium and opprobrium from the unsuspecting members of the Society as a result of the falsity contained in that statement.
“We therefore have Our Client’s further instruction to demand from you an unreserved apology in writing, published and circulated by the same medium with which you have defamed his character and the sum of Twenty-Five Billion Naira (N25,000,000,000) as reasonable compensation for the willful and unjustifiable denigration of his hard earned reputation.
“Whilst anticipating your compliance with the above, kindly accept the assurances of our best regards,” the letter read in part.
