Naja’atu Muhammad: ‘I Won’t Apologize to Ribadu’

Nuhu Ribadu, Nigeria’s National Security Adviser (NSA), has demanded a public apology and retraction from Naja’atu Muhammad, leader of Northern Star, over a comment she made on TikTok.

The demand was contained in a letter addressed to Muhammad by Ribadu’s lawyer, Ahmed Raji, on Tuesday.

According to the letter, Muhammad, in a video shared on TikTok, alleged that Ribadu had once discredited President Bola Tinubu, George Akume, Minister of Special Duties, and Orji Kalu, Senator representing Abia North, during his tenure as Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

She accused Ribadu of serving in a government led by individuals he had allegedly criticized in the past.

Raji refuted Muhammad’s claim, stating that Ribadu “has never maintained such a viewpoint” against any of the three politicians.

“The damage occasioned to our client by your deliberate but ill-advised action is unquantifiable,” he said, challenging Muhammad to provide evidence to support her allegations.

The letter further demanded that she retract her statement and issue a public apology in at least five national newspapers within seven days.

“If not, we have our client’s further instructions to seek redress against you in a court of law where exemplary damages will be claimed against you,” the letter reads.

In response, Muhammad has remained defiant, insisting she stands by her statement. Speaking in an interview with Premier Radio, a local station in Kano, she said she is ready to defend her claim in any court of law.

“If NSA Nuhu Ribadu feels he can take legal action as he claimed, he can take me up to the Supreme Court,” she said. Muhammad asserted that Ribadu’s past remarks about Tinubu are publicly available on social media and YouTube.

“His statement labeling President Tinubu as the most corrupt governor during his days as EFCC chairman is there for everybody to access. I am not retracting my statement,” she declared.