Emefiele Reacts To Akpabio’s Defamatory Statement, Demands for Damages

Godwin Emefiele, the embattled former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), has pledged to sue Godswill Akpabio, the president of the Senate, for alleged defamation.

Emefiele will demand N25 billion in damages from the Senate President in the event that an apology is not given, according to his legal counsel.

In a letter dated February 19, 2024, Matthew Burkaa, Emefiele’s attorney, criticized a comment attributed to Akpabio on February 18, 2024, saying that “we don’t know what to charge Emefiele with.”

During a Sunday thanksgiving service in Koroma, Tai Local Government Area, Rivers State, the Senate President stated that Emefiele left the Nigerian economy in disarray and that the federal government was unsure of what charges to bring against the former head of the country’s top bank during the storm.

In his letter to the Senate President, Emefiele however said Akpabio had, in his statement, suggested that “The cause of the entire hardship in Nigeria today is as a result of the policies of the previous administration.”

It also said it portrayed Emefiele as “A serial offender whose action is responsible for all the hardship experienced by Nigerians today.

“A person who has committed offences that are so numerous that the government is confused as to which of the offences to prefer a charge against him.”

The former CBN head has been charged and is presently defending himself, he said, accusing Akpabio of subjudice.

He expressed concern that Akpabio, as the leader of the legislature, should have been aware that his remarks compromised the independence and credibility of the judiciary.

“You are also aware that no single policy was carried out by Our Client without the approval, directive or authorization of the President and/or the Federal Executive Council of which you were a key and powerful member.

“It is pursuant to the above and without delving into the matter presently pending in Court that Our Client has instructed that we write to Your good offices and demand the immediate retraction of Your statement which has gone viral and are considered clearly defamatory of Our Client

“These baseless and false allegations clearly defames the character of Our Client and has also caused him great pains and embarrassment as it has lowered his esteem before the right thinking members of the Society in addition to the obvious odium and opprobrium from the unsuspecting members of the Society as a result of the falsity contained in that statement.

“We therefore have Our Client’s further instruction to demand from you an unreserved apology in writing, published and circulated by the same medium with which you have defamed his character and the sum of Twenty-Five Billion Naira (N25,000,000,000) as reasonable compensation for the willful and unjustifiable denigration of his hard earned reputation.

“In the event that you fail, refuse or neglect to comply with this legitimate demand, Our Client will be at liberty to seek the appropriate redress available to him under the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“Whilst anticipating your compliance with the above, kindly accept the assurances of our best regards,” the letter read in part.