The National Security Adviser (NSA) Malam Nuhu Ribadu has threatened to file a defamation lawsuit against the Kano state Deputy Governor, Comrade Aminu Gwarzo for accusing of his playing a role on the emirate crisis rocking the state.
Daily News 24 reports that the NSA made the threat in a statement by his lawyers, Aliyu & Musa Chambers.
Earlier on Saturday, Mr Ribadu had denied having a hand in the Kano Emirate tussle through his spokesperson Zakari Mijinyawa.
Mr Ribadu in the letter has demanded a retraction of the allegation and an apology from Mr Gwarzo.
According to the letter, “We act as solicitors to Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, who presently occupies the exalted position of the National Security Adviser (“our client”) and on whose instruction we write this letter.
“The attention of our client was drawn to a video clip being shared on different social media platforms wherein you granted an interview at Emir’s Palace in Kano on Saturday, the 25th day of May 2024, in a very calm atmosphere, and without any provocation whatsoever, falsely accusing our client of using his office to kill the people of Kano State and maim their properties. In the clip, you were shown to be saying in Hausa.
Also read: Ganduje behind plot to restore Bayero to Kano Palace – Kano deputy gov
“Your false accusations against our client portraying his office as an appendage of a political party and a willing tool to cause chaos in Kano is false and done with the intention of damaging the hard-earned reputation of our client in the eyes of the right-thinking members of the society and indeed it has succeeded in doing so.
“In all the places he has served, our client has never been accused of any wrongdoing. Given this illustrious background, it is inconceivable that someone would harbour the thought that our client would descend his exalted office so low as to interfere in the local tussle of the Kano Emirate.
“The wide coverage you gave your interview has caused serious embarrassment to our client and his family. Since the publication, our client has been receiving barrage of telephone calls both within and outside Nigeria from friends and associates who felt disappointed in him because of the false allegation owing to the fact that it came from a person occupying the office of Deputy Governor of Kano State. Our client and his office take your allegations seriously and by this letter, our client is demanding that you provide irrefutable evidence to substantiate your claims. If you have no proof, our client demands you to within 24 hours:
“i. retract the libellous allegation in a similar manner you made it as well as give it wide media circulation; and
“ii. issue a public apology in five National dailies with wide national coverage and on popular online platforms. Note that if you fail to do so, our client will be compelled to seek redress in a court of law.”
Recall that on Saturday, Comrade Gwarzo, while briefing journalists had accused a former governor of Kano state Abdullahi Ganduje of using Mr Ribadu’s office to smuggle deposed Emir of Kano, Aminu Ado Bayero back to Kano state.
The deputy governor also alleged that the NSA’s officer was planning to deploy security personnel to remove newly installed Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi II and restore Mr Bayero to the throne “by force”.
Tension has risen in Kano following the dethronement of five emirs and dissolution of their emirates in Kano, Gaya, Bichi, Rano and Karaye by Governor Abba Yusuf.
Mr Yusuf who signed a new law that removed the emirs from their stools also restored Mr Sanusi, who was deposed by Mr Ganduje in 2020, to the Kano emirate stool.
However, a court order secured by one of the Kingmakers in the defunct Kano Emirate Council, Aminu Babba Dan Agundi, nullified Governor Yusuf’s decision pending the determination of the issue in court.
Attempts by security agencies including the Nigeria Police, Army, personnel of the Department of State Services (DSS), the Navy and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) to enforce the court order and remove Mr Sanusi from the palace was unsuccessful on Saturday.
Meanwhile both Mr Sanusi and deposed Emir Bayero have been holding court in two different palaces in the state.
