Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, the National Security Adviser (NSA), has denied claims that he accused President Bola Tinubu, who was then the governor of Lagos State, of corruption while serving as Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
This denial follows accusations made by Hajia Naja’atu Muhammad, leader of Northern Star, who criticized Ribadu in a TikTok video for allegedly denouncing Tinubu and later serving in his government.
Ribadu dismissed the claims as malicious and demanded a public apology and retraction within seven days. In a letter issued by his lawyer, Dr. Ahmed Raji, SAN, Ribadu firmly stated that neither publicly nor privately did he ever label Tinubu, Sen. George Akume, or Sen. Orji Uzor Kalu as corrupt. The letter reads:
“In your video, you stated that when our client served as EFCC Chairman, he allegedly named President Bola Tinubu, alongside Senators George Akume and Orji Uzor Kalu, as governors who stole the most from Nigeria’s public funds. You also claimed that Ribadu, who once criticized Tinubu, has now become one of his strongest supporters, citing the arrest of Prof. Usman Yusuf as an example of government actions against dissent.
“Furthermore, you suggested that Ribadu’s shift in attitude means he either lied about Tinubu and the other governors or has become dishonest. However, privately and publicly, Ribadu has never made such accusations against President Tinubu or the Senators mentioned. This allegation is entirely false and surprised him when he became aware of your claims.
“Our client challenges you to provide any proof of your allegations, which have unfairly portrayed him as deceitful and duplicitous. Your publication, while masking itself as a call to the North, also incites violence against Ribadu. We cannot allow this malicious attack to go unchallenged, as it harms his reputation and public image.
“Your attempt to shame our client by publishing these false accusations on social media, where it quickly went viral, has caused immeasurable damage. To rectify the situation, Ribadu demands that you retract your statement and issue a public apology in five national newspapers within seven days of receiving this letter.
“Failure to comply will result in our client taking legal action to seek redress, including claiming exemplary damages.”
