Tunde Sabi’u denies working against Tinubu, threatens legal action

Sabi’u Tunde Yusuf, President Muhammadu Buhari’s nephew, has denied working against Bola Tinubu, presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Alwan Hassan, convener of North-South Progressive Alliance, had alleged on Channels Television on Monday that Yusuf was leveraging on his closeness with the president to ensure that Tinubu does not win the elections.

He also alleged that Yusuf, who is personal assistant to Buhari, has a huge influence on the new naira notes policy.

“There is this kid called Sabi’u Tunde, he is the only one doing all these things,” Hassan said.

“So he is trying to use that opportunity because he is very close to the president, he could manipulate everything or anything he wants to. It is just sad that a boy of that age will be doing all these things without looking at examples of other people that had done these things and where are they today.

“Everything that is happening on these Naira notes is Sabiu Tunde.

“He has spoken to a lot of people. He has told people that he is hell-bent on making sure we don’t win elections and that Asiwaju doesn’t win elections.”

However, in a letter dated February 8 and addressed to Hassan, Tunde through his solicitors, Wole Olanipekun & Co, described the allegations as “made up”.

TheCable understands that the legal notice was served on Hassan electronically.

“Our client denies the allegations and references to him contained in your publications as made-up, concocted, fabricated, fictitious and deliberately erroneous,” the letter read.

“Your said publication was/is intended to reduce our client’s estimation in the eyes of well-meaning people. 

“Presumably, your actions towards our client were eventuated by bad faith, spite and hatred. 

“Our client’s reputation has been seriously damaged, and he has also suffered considerable distress and embarrassment. This is more so that, issues in respect of which you publicly laid the blame at the doorstep of our client are those which have garnered national attention and, in some reported instances, led to violent protests. Thus, your actions, in fact, put our client at risk of physical harm.”

Yusuf is asking Hassan to pay N5 billion as damages for defamation.

He also wants “an unequivocal retraction of all allegations published by you about our client in the course of the above referenced telecast.

“A public apology to our client to be issued vide the same channel(s) through which you published the initial defamatory remarks.

“Both the retraction and public apology should be published in at least four newspapers with coverage and circulation across all geo-political zones in Nigeria.

“In the event that you do not comply with our client’s above legitimate demands within 21 days of receipt of this letter, our client reserves the right to resort to all means legally permissible under various laws which you are subject to municipally and globally to seek the appropriate redress relating to the unwarranted attacks on his person and ascription of derogatory falsehood to his character by you.”