Emefiele threatens N25bn defamation suit against Akpabio
Former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, has accused the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, of making defamatory statements against him. In a letter from his lawyer, Matthew Burkaa (SAN), Emefiele demanded a retraction of the statement and public apology and the sum of N25 billion “as reasonable compensation for […]
Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed (right) and Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele (2nd right), participating at the IMF, World Bank spring meetings in Washington DC on Tuesday
Former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, has accused the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, of making defamatory statements against him.
In a letter from his lawyer, Matthew Burkaa (SAN), Emefiele demanded a retraction of the statement and public apology and the sum of N25 billion “as reasonable compensation for the willful and unjustifiable denigration of his hard-earned reputation.”
Akpabio had in a thanksgiving service for Senator Barinada Mpigi in Koroma, Tai Local Government Area of Rivers State, on February 18, stated that the federal government is seeking the charges to file against Emefiele whom he hinted had committed many crimes during his tenure.
Burkaa said the former CBN boss considers the statements as false, distorted, and made in bad faith as he couldn’t have carried out his functions without the approval of the then President Muhammadu Buhari and his Federal Executive Council, of which Akpabio was a key member as the former Minister of the Niger Delta Affairs.
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The legal team argued that the Senate president’s comments not only undermine the integrity of the judiciary where Emefiele is already facing trial and failed to acknowledge his contributions to the Nigerian economy in introducing banking sector innovations and the resolution of the P&ID saga.
The letter reads, “You are also aware that no single policy was carried out by our client without the approval, directive, or authorisation 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 is considered defamatory of our client”