Suspended Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Betta Edu, has vowed to take legal action against the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), she is suing on defamation charges.
Expressing her dissatisfaction regarding the publication of an article, Edu’s legal representative, Chikaosolu Ojukwu, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, penned a letter addressed to the BBC offices in Abuja and London, on the harm caused to Edu’s reputation, following the unsubstantiated claims in the article
Titled ‘Request for Immediate Retraction of Defamatory Article Published on BBC Website against Dr. Betta Edu’, the letter alleged a lack of journalistic fairness and due process in the BBC’s reporting, citing the absence of an opportunity for Edu to respond to the allegations prior to publication.
While she contested the claims made in the BBC article, the letter asserted that Edu has neither been indicted nor found culpable of any financial impropriety. It demanded the immediate removal of the article from the BBC’s platforms and requested a public apology for the false and defamatory content.
Edu’s suspension in January 2024 by President Bola Tinubu stemmed from widespread criticism following a leaked memo in December 2023, which alleged her involvement in directing the transfer of public funds to a private account. However, the ministry clarified that the recipient was working as the Project Accountant for Grants for Vulnerable Groups.
In the wake of these developments, the suspended Minister claims her eputation has been marred, leading to psychological distress and reputational damage, as stated in the letter to the BBC.
Should the BBC fail to comply with the demands outlined in the letter, Edu says she is prepared to pursue legal action to seek redress for the harm on her reputation.
