Adeyanju threatens to sue HURIWA over ‘defamation’ of NNPC staff

A instrumentality firm, Deji Adeyanju & Partners, representing a Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) unit member, Asabe Waziri, has threatened to writer the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) implicit what it termed a defamatory statement.

In a missive signed by Marvin Omorogbe, a lawyer, and addressed to the convener of HURIWA, Emmanuel Onwubiko, the instrumentality steadfast demanded an contiguous retraction and apology from HURIWA.

It condemned HURIWA’s accusations of misconduct against Ms Waziri and rejected insinuations of corruption, citing ongoing ineligible proceedings and grounds of transgression charges against individuals associated with the opposing party.

The instrumentality steadfast asserted that HURIWA’s actions person severely damaged Ms Waziri’s nationalist representation and infringed connected her law rights.

It demanded an contiguous retraction of the missive sent to NNPC, a ceremonial apology, a nationalist apology successful 2 nationalist dailies, and fiscal compensation amounting to N100,000,000 for defamation.

“Our client’s attraction has been drawn to media reports regarding the supra taxable substance and she has so sighted a missive dated 19 April 2024, authored by HURIWA, wherein you requested her employer, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Limited to avail you delicate documents relating to her employment, salaries, alleged ownership of properties, etc, each of which are protected by law, including the Freedom of Information Act, which you referenced successful your letter,” the steadfast said.

Background

HURIWA had written the Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Limited, Mele Kyari, seeking the presumption of 1 of its staff, Ms Waziri, who is said to person purchased multi-million-naira houses successful Abuja and Lagos.

The letter, signed by HURIWA’s manager of nationalist media relations, Amina Mohammed and written nether the Freedom of Information Act (FOI), sought clarification connected the employment presumption of Ms Waziri and sought to ascertain the veracity of definite allegations against her.

“To assistance america successful amended knowing Ms Waziri’s employment presumption with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Limited and to ascertain the veracity of the allegations against her, we kindly petition the pursuing accusation nether the Freedom of Information Act:

“Employment Status: Please supply details regarding Asabe Waziri’s existent employment presumption with NNPC Limited, including her position, department, and immoderate applicable employment records.

“Salaries and Benefits: Kindly disclose Ms Waziri’s wage scale, benefits package, and immoderate further compensation she receives from NNPC Limited.

“Date of Enlistment: Provide the day erstwhile Asabe Waziri was enlisted arsenic a unit subordinate of NNPC Limited, on with immoderate records indicating her magnitude of service.

“Acquisition of Property: We question clarification connected however Ms. Waziri, arsenic a nationalist servant, allegedly acquired 2 units of residential spot (specifically, units 3B and 3C, Abeh Signatures Apartments, 1 Mekong Close, Maitama Abuja FCT) valued astatine N260 million, arsenic elaborate successful the aforementioned allegations. Sir, we would besides beryllium funny to ascertain the veracity of an unverified allegation that she made a acquisition of a prized lodging plus successful Lagos. Kindly avail america of this accusation if this is credible and provable.

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“We judge that transparency successful this substance is important for accountability and nationalist interest. We spot that your esteemed bureau volition supply the requested accusation promptly and pursuing the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act (2011),” HURIWA wrote successful its letter.

But Deji Adeyanju & Partners queried HURIWA’s motive successful penning the above-mentioned missive and its locus to dabble into an contented bordering connected a civilian declaration that is already earlier respective courts of competent jurisdiction successful Nigeria, including the Court of Appeal.