Publisher of Point Blank News, Jackson Ude, has asked for the resignation of Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo in order to allow for fair legal proceedings.
This followed the request of the Vice President asking the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, to investigate Point Blank News “criminal defamatory” report published against him.
The news medium had earlier linked Osibanjo to a N4billion gift allegedly received from the suspended chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ibrahim Magu.
The story shared on the Twitter page of Jackson Ude screamed the headline: “How Magu Embezzled N39 billion Gave Osinbajo N4 billion, Begs For Soft Landing”.
The Vice President, in a petition written on his behalf by his lawyer, Bayo Osipitan asked the IGP to investigate the “malicious” publication which is to discredit the person of the Vice President.
Osinbajo asked the IGP to file criminal proceedings in line with the provisions of Sections 391-395 of the Penal Code Act for criminal defamation against the said publisher.
Part of the statement reads, “These vicious and malicious publications are meant to achieve one objective only, to present to his readership and others (Nigerians and foreigners) that our client is a dishonest and disloyal public officer and consequently unfit for the position of Vice-President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria he is occupying.
“We are of the view that unless an action for criminal defamation is commenced against the said Mr. Jackson Ude, he will continue to use his social media platform to publish materials that are false and criminally defamatory of our client’s reputation.
“In view of the above, we humbly request that you cause the above allegations made against our client to be investigated and if the suggested investigation confirms our complaint of the falsehood of these allegations, to initiate criminal proceedings pursuant to the provisions of Sections 391-395 of the Penal Code Act for criminal defamation against the said Jackson Ude.”
But reacting on his Twitter page, Ude has asked the President to relinquish power first before filing a law suit against him.
He wrote in a series of Tweets, “Since Osinbajo, the Star Boy, is denying, let’s have lawyers compel the Presidential Panel investigating Magu and the Police, to release the verbatim transcripts of Magu’s confessions. This is not about waving immunity. Oya, let’s go there ndi Lawyers!
“I am not afraid of Osinbajo and his minions. If he indeed wants to go to court, he needs to resign first, and sue me. He cannot be VP and be using state resources to intimidate the Judiciary. He cannot wave an immunity that he didn’t place. Osinabjo should resign first!”