The disgraced former Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on Pension Reforms, Abdulrasheed Maina, has threatened to sue Premium Times for calling him a “pension thief.” Maina was convicted and jailed for laundering ₦2 billion in pension funds.
The Pension fraud convict in a letter dated Monday submitted by his lawyer Emmanuel Ekwe, he accused the online newspaper of publishing defamatory content and demanded a retraction and apology within seven days. If not, he said they would take legal action.
The threat followed Premium Times’ report that Maina, who was sentenced to eight years in prison in 2021, received an award from the Garki Branch of the Nigerian Bar Association last Thursday.
Ekwe called the publication “sensational, malicious and defamatory,” and especially objected to the repeated use of the term “pension thief” for his client.
In his letter titled “Re: Defamatory Publication Concerning Mr. Abdulrasheed Maina – Demand for Retraction, Apology and Publication of Corrective Statement,” Ekwe demanded immediate retraction of the publication from all Premium Times platforms, publication of a clear and unreserved apology with equal prominence, publication of a corrective statement clarifying that Maina lawfully completed his term of incarceration, and a written undertaking that the defamatory expressions shall not be repeated.
“Take notice that unless these demands are complied with within seven (7) days from receipt of this letter, Our Client shall, without further notice, commence appropriate legal proceedings against Premium Times Nigeria, the author, and all responsible parties, seeking damages, aggravated damages, declaratory reliefs, and injunctive orders, in addition to costs of action,” the letter stated.
Following public backlash, the national leadership of the Nigerian Bar Association dissociated itself from the award given to Maina by the Garki Branch.
NBA President, Afam Osigwe, condemned the action and announced the commencement of disciplinary proceedings against the branch chairman, Anthony Ojo.
“The purported appointment not only paints the legal profession in a bad light but also makes a mockery of the fight against corruption,” Osigwe said, describing the move as reprehensible.
