The embattled former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, has filed a lawsuit against the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio for defamation, seeking N1bn in damages.
Emefiele accused Akpabio of defamation with remarks made allegedly at the thanksgiving service by Senator Barinda Mpigi in Koroma, Tai LGA of Rivers state, on February 18, 2024.
According to Emefiele’s lawyer, Matthew Burkaa, Akpabio reportedly said: “We don’t know what to charge Emefiele with. Is it causing economic turmoil? Is it for illegal possession of firearms? Is it for printing money without authorization?”
Burkaa, in a notice to Akpabio dated February 19, 2024, described the statement as “false, distorted and clearly aimed at disparaging his (Emefiele’s) character and indeed made in bad faith”.
Replying Akpabio, Emefiele’s lawyer said: “Your statement attributing the present economic woes of the country solely on our client is most appalling and exposes the inaccuracies in your assertions, especially, as you were a major player in the immediate past administration and worked closely with our client and indeed witnessed the innovations he introduced in the banking sector and its impact on the economy whilst in office, as well as the role he played despite all odds in salvaging Nigeria in the P & ID Saga and the positive result it brought for Nigeria.”
Moreover, Burkaa claimed that Emefiele’s actions were always conducted under presidential and Federal Executive Council directives, of which Akpabio was a crucial member.
Burkaa demanded “an unreserved apology from Akpabio in writing, published and circulated by the same medium with which he defamed his client, and the sum of N1bn as reasonable compensation for the wilful and unjustifiable denigration of his hard-earned reputation.”