Hajia Halima Shehu has refuted a recent media report alleging that she embezzled N44.8 billion, claiming that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) recovered N39.8 billion from her.
Gatekeepers News reports that Shehu, who previously served as the National Coordinator of the Nigerian Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA), characterized the publication found in a national newspaper as “deliberate falsehood, malicious, and defamatory.”
In response, she has requested an immediate retraction of the report along with a public apology from the media outlet, which she expects within seven days.
Her statements were detailed in a letter sent to the Editor of “Business Day” Newspaper, a copy of which was shared with journalists on Tuesday in Abuja.
The letter was also signed by two other lawyers, Seun Awolade and Ojonugwa Ogwuche.
“On 7th January, 2024, your newspaper published a front-page story titled,: “EFCC recovers N39.8bn from ex-NSIPA Coordinator”, authored by one Chioma Onuh.
“The report falsely, maliciously and offensively alleged that our client embezzled N44.8 billion, belonging to the Federal Government of Nigeria, and that the EFCC recovered N39.8 billion from her.
This publication is a grave and deliberate falsehood.
“Our client has never been investigated, indicted or found guilty of any financial impropriety by the EFCC or by any other law enforcement authority,” the lawyer said
Mahmud, specifically denied the media report that his client allegedly transferred the funds to some individual accounts and companies through some commercial banks without any necessary approvals.
He said the newspaper, “without regard to the truth, and in reckless disregard of the reputation, integrity and dignity” of his client, chose to malign her person by imputing criminality to her.
“We state unequivocally that the publication is wholly defamatory, calculated to damage our client’s hard-earned reputation, destroy public
trust in her professional integrity, and subject her to public ridicule, odium and contempt.
“The publication offends every known principle of responsible journalism, particularly the duty to verify facts before publication,” he said.
According to the lawyer, the publication has injured his client’s reputation, integrity and dignity and subjected her to public ridicule, odium and contempt.
Mahmud, therefore, demanded an immediate retraction of the publication in the newspaper and on all its online platforms.
He also demanded a public apology to his client, to be ‘published with equal prominence as the offending story, in Business Day Newspaper and on your official website”,
The lawyer equally demanded indemnity for the damage caused to the reputation, character and integrity of his client.
He said, if the demands were not met within seven days of receiving the letter, he would proceed, on behalf of his client to institute legal action against the newspaper, the publisher and the reporter.
Mahmud, therefore urged the media outfit to take the remedial steps to avoid the legal action.
