Alleged defamation: Gov. Nyako threatens court action against Kaduna-based publisher

From Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

Adamawa state governor, Vice-Admiral Murtala Nyako (rtd) has threatened to drag a Kaduna-based Publisher and Editor-In- Chief of Power Steering newsmagazine, Mr. Oga Tom Uhia for alleged defamatory publication.
Mr. Uhia had in the May 2014 Special edition of the magazine published a cover story entitled: “Uncovered! How Nyako destroyed the peace of the North”.

However, writing through his lawyers, Kanu G. Agabi & Associates to the Editor-In –Chief, Governor Nyako said the publication on him was not only scandalous, but full of falsehood as well as defamatory and libelous.
He added that until the publication was retracted and apology tendered to him through national dailies as well as pay him a compensation of N10 billion within a week, he would drag the publisher to court for legal action.
Nyako’s letter reads in part: “Consequently, we demand a retraction of the above libelous publication, as well as an unreserved apology, boldly written in the center pages of two national dailies circulating both within and outside Nigeria.

“We also demand the sum of N10,000,000,000.00 (Ten billion Naira) as compensation for the irreparable damage done both to the person of our client and his reputation. Our stated demands should be met within 7
days from the date of your receipt of this letter failing which we shall commence action for an injunction and damages”.

But, reacting to the threat, in a statement, the Editor-In-Chief insisted that the publication contained verifiable facts and figures, and that the Governor could go ahead with his legal action against the alleged offending publication.
According to a statement issued by the Publisher/Editor-In-Chief, “We in PowerSteering are so determined now than ever to endeavour to tackle the leadership challenges of this great country, Nigeria cannot be intimidated by any individual or organization.

“Our allegations in our May 2014 edition, with the cover title: “Uncovered! How Nyako destroyed the peace of the North” are verifiable, factual, truthful and convincing for any discerning mind to appreciate in the interest of all rational Nigerians.
“We, therefore, ask the governor to go ahead with his legal threats, which will enable us lay more credence to our claims by substantiating all the allegation with more facts, figures, and visuals.
“We wonder why Governor Nyako is more bothered about the statements as restated or quoted in his solicitor’s letter to us than any other issues in the publication.
“Vice Admiral Nyako should better be quite and bury his head in shame rather than grandstanding and waiting for more of his dirty linens to be washed in the public”, the statement further read.