Edo election: Ribadu threatens PDP chieftain with lawsuit over claim of $2m bribe for security agencies

Nuhu Ribadu, the national security adviser (NSA), has threatened to sue Tony Aziegbemi over his comment that $2 million has been allegedly released to influence the September 21 governorship election in Edo.

In a statement he signed on Saturday, Aziegbemi, chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo, alleged that the party had uncovered a plot by the presidency to influence the governorship election.

Aziegbemi alleged that the NSA had been ordered to release $2 million to Monday Okpebholo, governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), “to buy votes and bribe security agencies”.

However, in a letter addressed to the Edo PDP chairman, the NSA, through his lawyer, Marian Aigbedion, said the allegations made by Aziegbemi are “libellous and malicious”.

Aigbedion said the Aziegbemi comments portray the NSA as a “corruption enabler and his office as an appendage of a political party willing to cause chaos” in Edo state.

“As a renowned career police officer and pioneer executive chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), our client has consistently demonstrated integrity and a commitment to fighting corruption,” the statement reads.

“It is inconceivable that he would be involved in such odious acts.

“Given the extensive damage your false and baseless allegations have caused our client, we demand: 1. A written apology to our client. 2. A full retraction of the publication in its entirety. 3. Publication of the retraction in A full-page advertorial in at least five nationwide newspapers; ten reputable and well-read online news sites; seven national and international television stations; ten radio channels with national and international reach; payment of N10,000,000,000 (Ten Billion Naira) as damages for reputational and other injuries.”

On Thursday, Aziegbemi also accused the police, under the leadership of Kayode Egbetokun, the inspector-general of police (IGP), of being biased towards the PDP.