Defamation: Saraki’s Lawyer Writes Kwara Governor, Demands N20bn Compensation
Former Senate President, Dr Abubakar Bukola Saraki has asked Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq to retract his defamatory comments about him on issue relating to embezzlement of SUBEB fund.
Saraki’s Lawyer, Afe Babalola SAN in a letter dated December 30, 2022, described Governor AbdulRazaq’s at inauguration of Saliu Mustapha Campaign Team as defamatory.
Afe Babalola chambers referenced Daily Trust publication of December 26, 2023 quoting Kwara Governor as saying: “I went to Abuja to ask UBEC why Kwara was blacklisted for seven years and was told the funds have been embezzled. But when I enquired why UBEC did not prosecute them, they said their leader (Saraki) was the Senate President and they would have a problem defending and getting their budget approved if they had taken such action.”
The counsel says the statements imply that Saraki embezzled funds belonging to Kwara State and earmarked for the advancement of the primary education of its indigenes and residents.
The former Senate President who served as Kwara State Governor from 2003 to 2011 denied the statement, saying there is no iota of truth in it.
The counsel therefore asked Governor AbdulRazaq to retract the statement, publish the written apology to him on the front page of three widely read national daily newspapers and pay compensation of N20billion within seven days.
Saraki vowed to seek redress in court, if Governor AbdulRazaq fails to fulfill the three demands within three days.
