Notable political analyst, Hajia Naja’atu Mohammed, has maintained her position that the National Security Adviser (NSA), Malam Nuhu Ribadu once labelled President Bola Tinubu as most corrupt politician.
Speaking in an interview aired by Premier Radio and monitored by our correspondent on Wednesday, Naja’atu maintained that Ribadu labeled Tinubu as the most corrupt governor while serving as the chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The NSA has since debunked these claims, stating that he never publicly or privately accused Tinubu of corruption in the past.
Ribadu, in a letter through his lawyer, Dr Ahmed Raji, SAN also issued a 7-day ultimatum for Naja’atu to offer a public apology and retract the comment widely publicised through the social media.
In the TikTok video, Hajia Muhammad allegedly accused the NSA of serving in President Tinubu’s government, whom he castigated when he was the Chairman of the EFCC.
Ribadu said the damage that had been done to him as a result of the TikTok video was unquantifiable.
The letter dated February 4, 2025 and signed by Dr. Raji, reads, “Clearly, in the text of your recording (reproduced and translated above), you stated that when our client served as the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes (EFCC), he allegedly named President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, alongside Sen. George Akume and Sen. Orji Uzor Kalu (all former Governors, and in that order) as the governors in Nigeria who stole the most from public treasury.
“You also stated that today, our client who once held the above odious view about President Tinubu has turned around to be his staunchest defender; especially, with regard to what you stated to be the government’s agenda to silence voices of dissent to the government, citing the alleged arrest of a certain Prof. Usman Yusuf as an example.
“You also stated that our client’s alleged attitudinal change towards President Tinubu means that he has either become a liar or that he lied when he allegedly described President Tinubu, Sen. Akume, Sen. Kalu and other governors as thieves.
“Privately or publicly, our client has never expressed the above viewpoint about President Tinubu and/or Senators George Akume and Orji Uzor Kalu, which you attributed to him.
“In fact, our client has never held such a viewpoint about the President; hence, it came as a complete surprise to him when his attention was drawn to the aforesaid publication by you against him.”
Ribadu challenged Naja’atu to provide evidence of her allegations which have cast him as double-faced, duplicitous and deceitful in the eyes of right-thinking members of the society.
“Surely, the damage occasioned to our client by your deliberate but ill-advised action is unquantifiable.
“However, our client will be assuaged if you retract the said publication and tender an unreserved public apology to him in at least 5 (five) national daily newspapers within 7 (seven) days of receipt of this letter.”
Failure to comply with these demands, Ribadu’s lawyer stressed, “We have our client’s further instructions to seek redress against you in a court of law where exemplary damages will be claimed against you. Kindly be advised.”
However, Naja’atu remained adamant by standing by her statement while challenging the NSA to sue her if what she said in the viral TikTok video was untrue.