Ribadu Gives Naja’atu Muhammad 7-Day Ultimatum to Apologize and Retract Alleged Malicious TikTok Comment
The National Security Adviser (NSA), Malam Nuhu Ribadu, has issued a public demand for Hajia Naja’atu Muhammad, a prominent politician and leader of Northern Star, to apologize and retract an alleged defamatory statement made in a TikTok video that has circulated widely on social media.
In the video, Muhammad allegedly accused Ribadu of a shift in his stance towards President Bola Tinubu. She claimed that Ribadu, who had been critical of Tinubu during his tenure as Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), had now become one of the President’s staunchest supporters.
Through his lawyer, Dr. Ahmed Raji, SAN, Ribadu vehemently denied the allegations, stating that he had never made such comments about President Tinubu, or about other figures mentioned in the video, including Senators George Akume and Orji Uzor Kalu.
The letter, dated February 4, 2025, reads: “You stated that when our client served as the Chairman of EFCC, he allegedly named President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Sen. George Akume, and Sen. Orji Uzor Kalu among the governors who stole the most from the public treasury. You also claimed that Ribadu, who once held this view, had now become a defender of President Tinubu, citing the alleged arrest of Prof. Usman Yusuf as an example.”
Ribadu’s lawyer emphasized that such statements were false, asserting that Ribadu had never held such views and had never publicly or privately made any disparaging remarks about President Tinubu, Akume, or Kalu.
The NSA has demanded that Muhammad provide evidence to support her allegations, which Ribadu believes portray him as dishonest and duplicitous. Ribadu’s legal team argued that the accusations, under the guise of a call to the North for justice, were not only false but also potentially inciteful.
The letter further warned Muhammad that her actions had caused significant harm to Ribadu’s reputation and could have far-reaching consequences. It concluded with an ultimatum: Muhammad has seven days to retract her statement and issue an unreserved public apology in at least five national newspapers.
Failure to comply with these demands, Ribadu’s lawyer stated, would result in legal action and a claim for exemplary damages.
