Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo State has issued a legal threat against a lawyer, Hassan Oladotun, for purportedly spreading a defamatory report aimed at barring him from the All Progressive Congress’ governorship primary.
On June 2, 2023, Oladotun requested the Nigeria Police Force to scrutinize the governor’s educational qualifications.
Subsequently, Oladotun obtained the investigation’s findings via a Freedom of Information request.
The PUNCH disclosed that a report sent to Oladotun, endorsed by DCP Tahir Usman of the Force Criminal Investigation Department in Abuja, revealed no proof of Aiyedatiwa’s attendance at Ikosi High School, Ikosi-Ketu, Lagos, as per the police inquiry into his O’level certificate.
Contrarily, the police refuted the report’s validity in a statement by spokesperson Muyiwa Adejobi on Friday.
Oladotun, countering the police’s statement, appealed to the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, and the Police Service Commission, asserting the report’s legitimacy and citing his Freedom of Information request.
In his April 5 petition Oladotun sought the IG and PSC’s intervention to safeguard the investigation’s report from tampering.
In an unexpected development, Aiyedatiwa’s attorney, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa (SAN), affirmed the authenticity of the governor’s West African School Certificate Examination results.
A letter to Oladotun dated April 8, which our correspondent received on Monday, detailed Adegboruwa’s verification of the accusations against the governor, which were found baseless.
“Upon your chorused repetition of this falsehood against our client, we took steps to conduct a verification exercise and indeed confirmed the authenticity of his West African School Certificate Examination results. We challenge you to proceed to do the same with the following particulars:
“Name of the Candidate: Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa; Centre Number: 15592; Examination Number: 019; Centre: Ikosi High School, Ikosi-Ketu, Lagos State. Date of Examination: May/June, GCE O/L, 1982.
“The search will bring out the following results in favour of our client: English Language: 8; Bible Knowledge: 6; Economics: 4; Health Science: 8; Commerce: 3; Accounts: 7; Business Management: 8”, the letter partly read.
Moreover, Adegboruwa demanded a public apology in three national newspapers and a retraction of the disputed publications about the governor’s certificate.
Adegboruwa outlined the following demands on behalf of his client: a public apology in at least three widely circulated newspapers across Nigeria, a retraction of all defamatory publications concerning the governor’s West African School Certificate Examination result, and the withdrawal of all related correspondence sent to the Nigeria Police Force, the All Progressives Congress, and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Additionally, Adegboruwa sought financial reparation for the erroneous allegations against the governor.
He said, “Adequate compensation for the false and libellous publications made of and concerning our client based on his status, position in life, and political career. To cease from authoring, publishing, or in any other manner circulating further false and libellous publications of and concerning our client.”
Adegboruwa, however, noted that should Oladotun fail to meet their demands seven days after receiving the letter, the governor would institute legal action against him.
He said, “Take notice that if you fail, refuse, and/or neglect to comply with the above-stated demands within seven clear days of your receipt of this letter, we shall proceed to execute our client’s further instructions to explore all lawful means to seek redress against you without further notice to you.”
