Atiku threatens N200bn suit over ex-minister's "malicious falsehood"

Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has given a leader of the Northern Elders Forum, Paul Unongo seven days to retract a "the blatant and malicious falsehood" he made against him.
Unongo had accused Atiku of being a financier of Miyetti Allah, an association of cattle breeders.
On Monday, January 8, 2018, Atiku issued a letter through his lawyer, Mahmud Magaji (SAN), asking Unongo to publish the retraction in all national newspapers.
The
former vice-president also demanded that the elder pays him (Atiku)
N200 billion as damages within 30 days of receiving the letter.
In his letter, Atiku referred to the publication in a national newspaper in which Unongo's claims were reported.
Unongo,
a former minister of Steel Development in the Second Republic, had
alleged that in his interaction with Atiku, he found that the politician
is a major financier of Miyetti Allah.
The letter 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 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
rigours of litigation and this we shall do without any further reference
to you."
On Monday, January 1, 2018, Fulani herdsmen launched an heinous attack on Benue communities, slaughtering over 20 persons.
They have attacked more villages since the New Year day massacre, leaving about 71 people dead in total.
Atiku threatens N200bn suit over ex-minister's "malicious falsehood"
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