N4bn Fake News: Osinbajo to Sue Blogger, Jackson Ude, for Defamation

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SWITZERLAND, JULY 9 – Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo is set to sue controversial blogger, Jackson Ude, for defamation of character, over unproven allegations that the Vice President received N4 billion bribe from the suspended acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu.

Today’s Echo gathers that Osinbajo has written a petition to the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, demanding the probe of Ude, who is known for making sensational allegations against notable figures.

The petition dated July 8, 2020, is titled, ‘Criminal Defamation of the Vice-President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo (SAN), GCON by Jackson Ude’.

In the petition written on his behalf by his lawyer, Bayo Osipitan, the Vice-President said Ude, the publisher of an online medium, Point Blank News, authored a story in which it was alleged that the suspended acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ibrahim Magu, who is facing a Presidential probe, told the investigative panel that he gave N4bn to Osinbajo.

The Vice-President said Ude was in the habit of publishing malicious articles against his person. He subsequently attached printed copies of some of the blogger’s reports to the petition.

Osinbajo said the articles were defamatory and capable of bringing him to ridicule before members of the public.

He called on the IG to probe the blogger with a view to prosecuting him for criminal defamation.
Osinbajo said Ude also likened him to alleged international fraudster, Ramon Abbas aka Hushpuppi, by calling him ‘Hush-bajo’.

The petition read in part, “These vicious and malicious publications are meant to achieve one objective only, to present to his readership and others (Nigerians and foreigners) that our client is a dishonest and disloyal public officer and consequently unfit for the position of Vice-President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria he is occupying.

“We are of the view that unless an action for criminal defamation is commenced against the said Mr. Jackson Ude, he will continue to use his social media platform to publish materials that are false and criminally defamatory of our client’s reputation.
“In view of the above, we humbly request that you cause the above allegations made against our client to be investigated and if the suggested investigation confirms our complaint of the falsehood of these allegations, to initiate criminal proceedings pursuant to the provisions of Sections 391-395 of the Penal Code Act for criminal defamation against the said Jackson Ude.”

Today’s Echo gathers that Ude continues to post negative commentaries on the Vice President via his Twitter handle.

Apparently in reaction to Osinbajo’s statement, Ude tweeted on Thursday afternoon, “Since Osinbajo, the Star Boy, is denying, let’s have lawyers compel the Presidential Panel investigating Magu and the Police, to release the verbatim transcripts of Magu’s confessions. This is not about waving immunity. Oya, let’s go there ndi Lawyers!

“I am not afraid of Osinbajo and his minions. If he indeed wants to go to court, he needs to resign first, and sue me. He cannot be VP and be using state resources to intimidate the Judiciary. He cannot wave an immunity that he didn’t place. Osinabjo should resign first!”

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