Defamation: Ex-Speaker Dogara gave three days for retraction of report from online media
By Ahmed Ahmed
Former Speaker of the House of Representatives Mr Yakubu Dogara has given publishers of Bauchi based online news blog Wikki Times to retract defamatory publication against his person.
Mr Ahmed Accanny of Baushe Chambers Bauchi stated this in a statement made available to Journalists on Saturday in Bauchi.
He said Dogara is our client and member Representing Bogoro/Dass/Tafawa Balewa Federal Constituency of Bauchi State demanded an immediate retraction of the defamatory story and a written apology
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“We need that within three days from the date of the receipt of the letter or risk legal action.
“Our client is equally marvelled and mortified by your publication’s insinuations that he works for UBEC and superintends over their projects all in a bid to defame him.
The defamatory and libellous story was published against him by the same media on June 28, 2021.
He explained that the libellous story in the online blog alleged without any shred of evidence.
“That the former Speaker “connived” with the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) to squander a fictitious sum of N1 billion meant for renovation of schools in his Federal Constituency.
Accanny said the disingenuous publication purported to elicit information from some named persons one of whom is Mr Gideon Gambo,
“Whom your spurious publication claim is an uncle to our client and NUT Chairman of Bogoro Local Government.
“Your publication went on to recklessly quote the said Mr Gideon Gambo, a fictitious uncle to Mr Dogora our client as saying that:
According to him, since you have categorically failed to state whether the purported sum of 1 billion naira was released and to whom,
“How therefore did you conclude that our client in conjunction with UBEC has squandered a nonexistent sum of 1 billion naira,” he queried.
Accanny pointed out that Dogara, their client, is not aware of the release of the sum of N1 billion to any entity by UBEC for the construction of schools in his constituency.
“Other than a budgetary line of N1 billion naira for the construction of Model Schools in Dass Central Primary School, Tafawa Balewa Central Primary School, Bogoro Primary School and Gwarangah Primary School at the cost of 250 billion naira each, of which there was no budgetary release of the monies appropriated.
Responding, Malam Mohammed Haruna the Publisher of the Wikki Times said they would react appropriately after studying the letter sent to them by Baushe chambers.
Defamation: Ex-Speaker Dogara gave three days for retraction of report from online media