Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, the National Security Adviser (NSA), has strongly rejected allegations that he labelled President Bola Tinubu, then governor of Lagos State, as corrupt during his tenure as the chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The statement comes in response to claims made by Hajia Naja’atu Muhammad, leader of Northern Star, in a viral TikTok video. In the video, Muhammad criticized Ribadu for his previous criticisms of Tinubu while heading the EFCC, accusing him of calling the president corrupt.
Ribadu, through a letter from his lawyer, Dr. Ahmed Raji, SAN, described the allegation as malicious and demanded a public apology and retraction within seven days. The NSA categorically stated that neither publicly nor privately did he ever accuse Tinubu, or any other governors, of embezzling public funds.
The letter refutes claims that Ribadu had named Tinubu, alongside Senators George Akume and Orji Uzor Kalu, as some of the most corrupt governors in Nigeria. It further states that Ribadu has never expressed such views, calling the allegations a complete surprise.
Ribadu’s legal team pointed out that the publication was not only false but also intended to damage his reputation, describing it as a deliberate attempt to ridicule him. The letter warns that unless the claims are retracted and an apology is issued in five national newspapers within seven days, Ribadu will seek legal redress and pursue exemplary damages in court.
The controversy follows Muhammad’s claims that Ribadu’s recent defense of President Tinubu, particularly regarding the government’s stance on dissent, contradicts his earlier statements.
Ribadu’s legal team has emphasized that they will take further action if the allegations are not retracted promptly.
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