NSA Nuhu Ribadu drags blogger to court over claims on EFCC property sales to Falana

The National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, has issued a legal warning to controversial blogger Dr. Kemi Lawrence Olunloyo following accusations made in a recent YouTube video.

In the video, which has gained over 26,000 views, Olunloyo alleged that prominent human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), purchased stolen goods, including cars and houses, from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) during Ribadu’s tenure as chairman of the anti-graft agency.

She also insinuated a close relationship between Ribadu and Falana, suggesting that the lawyer benefited from seized EFCC properties in the 1990s.

The NSA’s warning signals potential legal action if the claims are not retracted, as the allegations have raised concerns about defamation and the spread of false information.

Ribadu has maintained that the accusations are baseless and has called for accountability in the media space.

The video alleges that both politicians and cybercriminals, popularly known as “Yahoo boys,” were deprived of assets, which were later sold off to influential figures like Falana.

In response, Ribadu, through his legal counsel, Marian Aigbedion, described the accusations as “slanderous and false,” and emphasized that no property was sold during his tenure as EFCC chairman.

According to the lawyer’s statement, all assets seized by the EFCC were forfeited to the Federal Government through court orders, as mandated by the EFCC Act of 2003.

The letter from Ribadu’s counsel demanded that Olunloyo issue a public apology to Ribadu, both personally and on YouTube, alongside a full retraction of the video.

However, the NSA has demanded a compensation of ₦10 billion for reputational damage and other injuries caused by the video.

“If our demands are not met within seven days,” the letter warned, “we shall proceed with legal action to enforce our Client’s rights.”

The allegations in Olunloyo’s video have cast a negative light on Ribadu, potentially harming his public image as a former anti-corruption figure.

The letter read, “We write on the instructions of Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, National Security Adviser (NSA) of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (“our Client”).

“Our letter is with regard to your captioned YouTube video aired on 27th September, 2024 with the following captions “How Attorney Femi Falana allegedly bought stolen goods and property (cars and houses) from the EFCC for years during the Ribadu administration #Kemitalks Part 2”, “Femi Falana allegedly purchased seized EFCC cars and homes. He has a strong link with the agency”, “How Mr. Fermi Falana bought houses and cars seized by the EFCC in the 90’s era. Politicians and Yahoo boys were ripped off.

“A human rights lawyer buying proceeds of crime and ‘Can this allegation levelled against Bar Femi Falana by Dr Kemi Lawrence nee Olunloyo be true that he bought Seized Properties & Cars from EFCC.’”

Aigbedion said, “The video slanderously and falsely alleges, amongst others, that our Client was selling assets recovered from yahoo boys in the 1990s by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to Mr. Femi Falana SAN. Your video was replete with falsehoods including the following:

“That the EFCC existed in the 90s: the EFCC was actually created by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission Act 2002. Our Client was appointed as the pioneer Chairman of the EFCC following its establishment In 2003.

“That our Client was involved in the selling of properties (houses and cars) seized by the EFCC during his tenure as its Chairman: the truth is that during the five (5) year tenure of our Client as the Chairman of the EFCC, NO seized or other property was ever sold by the EFCC. All the properties seized by it, including houses and cars, were forfeited to the Federal Government pursuant to Orders of Court which said Orders were granted pursuant to the EFCC Act 2003 which provided that seized properties were to be forfeited to the Federal Government. Indeed, the scope of duties of our Client whilst he was the Chairman of EFCC did not include selling of seized or other properties and the EFCC did not have such powers. Consequently, our Client could not have sold any properties seized by EFCC to Mr. Femi Falana or any other person for that matter.”

Aigbedion noted that the “falsehood you have accused their Client of impunity in his discharge of official duties, gross abuse of public office and breach of public trust, inter alia, all of which he is innocent of.

“That EFCC, under our Client’s Chairmanship, seized properties of Yahoo boys: the truth is that Yahoo boys were a much later phenomenon that came on the scene in Nigeria long after our Client had concluded his term as Chairman of EFCC.

“Your malicious and slanderous video shared with your over 65,000 followers and with 26,000 views, and counting, as at the time of this letter, has brought our Client into public disdain and odium. By circulating the video with its libellous captions through, amongst others, a universal social media platform, you portrayed our Client to the world as a corrupt person and a corruption enabler during his tenure as the Chairman of the EFCC and one who should not be trusted even now.”

It continues, “You would appreciate that as a renowned career police officer, pioneer Executive Chairman of the EFCC and till date, our Client has consistently demonstrated integrity and a commitment to fighting corruption.”

Aigbedion added that Ribadu has received various awards both nationally and internationally in recognition of his stance and fight against corruption.

She said that the circulation of the video has grievously dented his reputation and goodwill garnered over decades of service to the nation and humanity as a whole.

However, Nuhu Ribadu gives Olunloyo seven days to retract her video and issue a public apology.

His legal team stated, “Given the extensive damage caused by your false and baseless video, we demand the following on behalf of our client: ‘A written apology to our Client to be issued forthwith to him personally and on YouTube A full retraction of the video in its entirety.

“Publication of the retraction in: You Tube, A full-page advertorial in at least five nationwide newspapers, Ten reputable and well-read online news sites, Seven national and international television stations, Ten radio channels with national and international reach.”

“Additionally, we demand payment of 10,000,000,000.00 (Ten Billion Naira) as damages for reputational and other injuries. Please take notice that if our demands are not met within seven days, we shall proceed with our client’s further instructions, including taking legal action to enforce his rights,” Aigbedion added.