By Ayorinde Oluokun/Abuja
Billionaire businessman, Femi Otedola said he has instructed his lawyers to file N1 billion defamation suit against Umar Sani, a former Special Adviser (Media) to former Vice President Namadi Sambo for linking him with fuel subsidy fraud.
He also implored President Bola Tinubu to release the full Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede report on petrol subsidy fraud to enable Nigerians to know the truth. Nigerian Culture Book
“It is on record that the Presidency at the time called on the late EFCC Chairman, Ibrahim Lamorde, to halt the investigation. Let the report be made public so the real subsidy thieves can be unmasked.
“Because of these deliberate lies and unfounded allegations, I have instructed my lawyers to file a ₦1 billion libel suit against Umar Sani. People must learn that reputations are not to be toyed with for cheap propaganda and also to serve as a deterrent for other mischief makers in the future. I will go to every extent that this is achieved, Otedola said in a statement on Sunday while reacting to publication by Sani which, he said accused him of complicity in subsidy fraud.
The businessman, however dismissed claim, describing the publication as mischievous and malicious.
“His insinuations are false, baseless, and a shameless attempt to pander to lies and rewrite history,” Otedola said.
While denying the claim of complicity in fuel subsidy fraud, Otedola noted that his company, Zenon Petroleum and Gas Limited was not involved in importation of petrol which attracted payment of subsidy. Rather, he said the company was an importer and trader of diesel which did not attract subsidy.
“It is therefore shocking that someone like Umar Sani who occupied a position of authority and responsibility could display such ignorance of basic industry facts in public. I view this as either mischief (and taking advantage of the uneducated public) or a blatant display of gross ineptitude.
“If Diesel did not fall under the subsidy regime, how can Umar Sani then accuse Zenon Petroleum and Gas Limited of impropriety under the subsidy regime,” the businessman queried.
Otedola also said as a member of ex- President Goodluck Jonathan’s Economic Team, he was the first to raise alarm over the fraud being perpetrated through the petrol subsidy scheme.
He said he was also instrumental to the investigation of the subsidy fraud by the National Assembly when the then Minister of Petroleum, Dieziani Allison – Madueke denied it.
“With my strong determination to stop the economic malaise and bleeding, I called Senator Bukola Saraki and reported the fraud to him. He took it to the floor of the Senate, and from there the House of Representatives began its investigation.
“These Statesmen are alive and my assertions above can be corroborated if necessary. If I was complicit in subsidy theft, would I be the one to raise the alarm and blow the whistle on myself? That alone should question the motive of Umar Sani for his most recent publication on this matter,” said Otedola.
He also noted that he blew the whistle that eventually led to the conviction and jailing of the chairman of the House committee on fuel subsidy probe Farouk Lawan.
Otedola said this was after Lawan had tried to indict him without any basis in a case of “corruption fighting back.”
“Some of the perpetrators decided to fight back by using the House committee on the probe, headed by Hon Farouk Lawan who tried to indict me without any basis. As they always say its only natural for corruption to fight back.
“The House Committee on the subsidy probe was now being manipulated by the subsidy fraudsters and thereby turning the probe panel into an extortion racket. When the harassment and blackmail became incessant on my person, I petitioned the authorities and worked with the Department of State Security (DSS) in a sting operation. The money was provided by the DSS, duly marked, and handed over to me under security surveillance.
“I then gave it to Farouk Lawan in line with the sting operation. That is on record. To twist that carefully documented operation into an indictment against me is laughable and only exposes the ignorance of Mr. Sani. You may be aware that the Hon Lawan was subsequently convicted and sentenced to 5 years imprisonment for bribery. The facts are very clear and public.
He also implored President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to release the full Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede report on subsidy fraud so that Nigerians can know the truth of what transpired. Nigerian Culture Book
“It is on record that the Presidency at the time called on the late EFCC Chairman, Ibrahim Lamorde, to halt the investigation. Let the report be made public so the real subsidy thieves can be unmasked.
Otedola also described the allegation allegations and insinuations about his involvement with AMCON as another demonstration of mischief and ineptitude on the part of Umar Sani.
“I wonder why someone who twist publicly available information to miseducate the populace. I have never hidden the fact that I suffered financial loses from the global economic meltdown of 2008 resulting in a huge debt exposure to the Nigerian Financial Services Industry. Nigerian Culture Book
“The loans were sold to AMCON. I, in turn gave up my assets worth hundreds of billions of Naira to settle my obligations under a court-ordered settlement. It is on record that AMCON itself publicly commended my approach and told other debtors to follow my example. Court records are there for anyone seeking the truth to investigate. AMCON officials from that time are also alive today to confirm the truth. I even addressed this matter in my book, “Making it Big” which was recently published and released to the public.
“Because of these deliberate lies and unfounded allegations, I have instructed my lawyers to file a ₦1 billion libel suit against Umar Sani. People must learn that reputations are not to be toyed with for cheap propaganda and also to serve as a deterrent for other mischief makers in the future. I will go to every extent that this is achieved.
“To Mr. Sani and others who peddle these half-baked stories: go and read my book Making It Big, study the facts, and stop disgracing yourselves with ignorance.
“I have nothing to hide and I have always acted in the interest of truth and accountability. Those who benefited from subsidy fraud know themselves. I will not sit back and allow falsehood to be written into history.”
Source; PM News