N4bn Allegation: Osinbajo Writes IGP, Wants Blogger Investigated
Lawyers to Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, have written to the Inspector-General of Police asking for a full investigation into allegations made by an online journalist Jackson Ude from Point-Blank news who on July 8 wrote an article alleging that the vice president had received 4 billion naira from the embattled EFCC chairman Ibrahim Magu.
According to the article, the money was part of a 39 billion naira loot by Magu.
The blogger is also said to have alleged that the embattled EFCC chairman is begging for a soft landing from the presidential panel because of this.
The letter written by the chambers of Bayo Osipitan and Co dated July 8 describes the allegations as vicious and malicious meant to portray the vice president as a dishonest and disloyal public officer unfit for the office of the vice president.
The letter called for a thorough investigation into the allegations made by Jackson Ude, noting that if those claims are found to be false, then criminal proceedings for criminal defamation should be brought against Jackson Ude.
“In the said online criminally defamatory publication, titled “How Magu Embezzled N39billion, Gave Osinbajo N4billion, Begs For Soft Landing”, which is available at http://pointblanknews.com/pbn/exclusive/how-magu-embezzledn39billion-gave-osinbajo-n4billion-begs-for-soft-landing/ Mr. Ude wrote and caused to be published the following about our Client and the Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Mr. Ibrahim Magu:
“Embattled former acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, allegedly embezzled over N39billion and gave Vice President Yemi Osinabjo (sic) N4billion, after the VP gave instructions to him to release some of the recovered loots, Sources within the panel investigating the former EFCC boss told Pointblanknews.com”
“Specifically, Magu was said to have mentioned a N4billion that he released to the VP based on directives the very day the president left the country for the United Kingdom on medical treatment”, the lawyer said.
Other alleged offensive publication, Ude was alleged to have made against the vice president on his Twitter account with the handle @jacksonpbn include;
“HushBajo. N4billion. The Ghana investment. Okechukwu Enelamah the errand boy. The secretly recorded night vigil prayers at the Villa Chapel. The Letter of resignation written for Buhari in Tunis by Tinubu/Osinbajo while Ba was sick. The scheming to take over. Etc. This na pay back”.
Professor Osipitan lamented that tweets and reactions from the said online publication have also been circulated widely on other social media platforms including Facebook and WhatsApp, as well as other online websites including Newsreel with the caption “EFCC PROBE: VP Osinbajo Allegedly Indicted Over N4billion Recovered Loot Diversion” available at https://newsreel.com.ng/2020/07/08/efcc-probe-vp-osinbajoallegedly-indicted-over-n4billion-recovered-Iopt-diversion/; and YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=isbNTEp21CA
“Our instruction is that the above statements published by Mr. Ude are false in every material respect and same are designed to injure the reputation of our Client. Copies of the publications are hereby attached for ease of reference and necessary investigation.
“These vicious and malicious publications are meant to achieve one objective only, to represent to his readership and others (Nigerians and Foreigners) that our Client is a dishonest and disloyal public officer and consequently unfit for the position of Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria which he is occupying.
“We are of the view that unless an action for criminal defamation is commenced against the said Mr. Jackson Ude, he will continue to use his social media platform to publish materials that are false and criminally defamatory of our Client’s reputation.
“In view of the above, we humbly request that you cause the above allegations, made against our Client, to be investigated and if the suggested investigation confirms our complaint of the falsehood of these allegations, to initiate criminal proceedings pursuant to the provisions of Sections 391 — 395 of the Penal Code Act for Criminal Defamation against the said Jackson Ude,” the petition read.
