Chairman of the Independent National Electoral
Commission, (INEC) Prof. Attahiru Jega, yesterday described a publication which
accused him of being involved in “loads of dirty deals” within the commission
as “malicious” threatening to take legal action if the publishers of the story
do not apologize and retract same.
Commission, (INEC) Prof. Attahiru Jega, yesterday described a publication which
accused him of being involved in “loads of dirty deals” within the commission
as “malicious” threatening to take legal action if the publishers of the story
do not apologize and retract same.
A national newspaper had alleged among others, that Jega
hired personal aides and non-Nigerians whose salaries are being paid by foreign
organisations and whose loyalty is not to their employer, INEC, or to their
country, Nigeria but to the foreign agencies or countries.
hired personal aides and non-Nigerians whose salaries are being paid by foreign
organisations and whose loyalty is not to their employer, INEC, or to their
country, Nigeria but to the foreign agencies or countries.
They also accused Jega of being high-handed and having
ulterior motives towards the 2015 general elections and embarking on “massive
transfer” of staff he single handedly authorized.
ulterior motives towards the 2015 general elections and embarking on “massive
transfer” of staff he single handedly authorized.
But Jega, through his lawyer, Dikko and Mahmoud,
solicitors and associates, asked the newspaper to unequivocally retract and
apologize, “in wording acceptable to us, within 7 days of the receipt of this
letter” or they would “proceed with appropriate legal action without further
recourse to you”
solicitors and associates, asked the newspaper to unequivocally retract and
apologize, “in wording acceptable to us, within 7 days of the receipt of this
letter” or they would “proceed with appropriate legal action without further
recourse to you”
According to a letter addressed to the editor-in-chief of
the paper, Jega said the publication is intended to bring his person “into
disrepute, expose him to public ridicule with the aim of portraying him as a
corrupt, selfish person and also as an irresponsible, reckless and unpatriotic
public official whose actions have undermined national security and the
country’s democratic system”.
the paper, Jega said the publication is intended to bring his person “into
disrepute, expose him to public ridicule with the aim of portraying him as a
corrupt, selfish person and also as an irresponsible, reckless and unpatriotic
public official whose actions have undermined national security and the
country’s democratic system”.
The letter continued in part, “these allegations are capable
of and have indeed, diminished the reputation and standing of Professor Jega in
the eyes of ordinary Nigerians. Professor Jega is a renowned scholar of
international repute.
of and have indeed, diminished the reputation and standing of Professor Jega in
the eyes of ordinary Nigerians. Professor Jega is a renowned scholar of
international repute.
“He has been widely known and perceived as an epitome of
integrity and incorruptibility.
integrity and incorruptibility.
Source: Leadership
