Political Firestorm: Kwankwaso Hits Bishop Ayodele with N10bn Defamation Suit
Former Kano State Governor, Dr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has issued a 24-hour ultimatum to Bishop Babatunde Elijah Ayodele to retract alleged defamatory remarks or face a N10 billion lawsuit. The legal notice details accusations of false and malicious statements made during a church service, which Kwankwaso's team claims have severely damaged his reputation.
Dr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, a former Governor of Kano State and one-time NDC vice presidential candidate, has issued a stringent 24-hour ultimatum to Bishop Babatunde Elijah Ayodele, the Primate of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church. The demand mandates the cleric to retract alleged defamatory remarks made against Kwankwaso or face a N10 billion legal action.
The legal notice, dated June 11, was dispatched by Kwankwaso's solicitors, Magaji Mato Ibrahim SAN & Co. of Supreme Chambers, directly to Bishop Ayodele. It explicitly accuses the cleric of uttering false, malicious, and derogatory statements concerning Kwankwaso during a church service. These alleged remarks were reportedly recorded and subsequently disseminated across various social media platforms.
Kwankwaso's legal representatives argue that the alleged comments have significantly tarnished their client's reputation. They highlighted Kwankwaso's distinguished public service career, identifying him as a prominent national figure who has served as former Governor of Kano State, former Minister of Defence, former member and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Senator, and former presidential candidate. The notice further detailed that the alleged remarks controversially linked Kwankwaso’s political activities and integrity with claims deemed defamatory by his legal team.
In response to these allegations, the legal team has put forth several demands. They insist on an immediate and public retraction, along with an apology from Bishop Ayodele. This apology is required to be published across all social media platforms and reputable local and international media outlets, ensuring it receives the same level of prominence as the original alleged publication. Furthermore, they have requested a written undertaking from the cleric, committing him to abstain from making any further statements that could be considered defamatory against Dr. Kwankwaso.
The legal notice sternly warns that failure to comply with these demands within the specified 24-hour period will trigger legal proceedings against Bishop Ayodele. In such an event, Kwankwaso intends to seek N10 billion in damages, in addition to other reliefs and legal costs. The legal team firmly maintains that the alleged statements are “false, unprovoked and unsubstantiated,” asserting their potential to cause significant reputational damage and foster division among Kwankwaso’s political supporters.