Buhari sues Reuben Abati, demands One Billion Naira

Reuben Abati, Presidential Adviser Media and Communications

Presidential candidate of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), General Muhammadu Buhari (retd), has asked the newly appointed Special Adviser to the President, Media and Communications, Dr. Reuben Abati, to immediately apologize over his publication that he incited the post-election violence in the Northern part of the country.

Buhari also demanded N1,000,000,000 as damages from Abati over what he termed as defamatory publication.

Buhari's letter to Abati from his lawyer, Harrison Agalagu, of Tope Adebayo's Chambers read in part: “On April 22, 2011, you published or caused to be published in the Guardian Newspaper that our client incited the post-election violence, especially in the Northern part of the country.

“In the publication, you alleged that our client, in the first week of March, 2011, advised his supporters to lynch anybody who tries to rig the April polls.

Abati, until he was recently appointed as the presidential spokesman, was the Chairman, Editorial Board of The Guardian, and maintained a weekly column in the paper.

Buhari however denied ever making any inciting statements that might have led to the post-election violence that erupted after the last general election.

 
Lawyers to the former head of state said the article credited to Abati insinuated that he (Buhari) was responsible for creating the atmosphere that precipitated the riots that engulfed some Northern parts of the country as an aftermath of the April elections.

According to the lawyers, “In the said article, you insinuated that our client incited the post-election violence that erupted in the North as to the tenor of your publication, the angry youths that championed the violence are acting on behalf of our client.

“You further stated through subtle innuendo that unless our client deprecated the violence through the radio and television in Hausa and Fulfude languages, he should not be taken serious when he denies fanning embers of the imbroglio.

Gen. Buhari's Letter to Dr Reuben Abati Gen_Buhari%27s_letter_to_Dr_Reuben_Abati%5B1%5D.pdf (click on the link to read)