Former Kogi Gov. Yahaya Bello has vowed to take legal action against an online medium that published a defamatory report about him.
The report allegedly quoted Bello making negative comments about President Bola Tinubu, which Bello’s team has vehemently denied, reaffirming his support for President Bola Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress(APC).
Bello, through his media director Ohiare Michael, issued a statement on Monday, condemning a recent publication that attributed fake quotes to him against the President.
He described the report as the most laughable twist in the failed attempts of irresponsible politicians to damage his relationship with the President, a desperate ploy to bring him down at all costs.
The statement said: “Our attention has been drawn to a not only mischievous but senseless report published by a mushroom blog called Daily Excessive, which attributed fake quotes against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to our principal, the immediate past Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello.
“Ordinarily, we would not have even bothered to give this any attention, because no informed Nigerian would take such a ridiculous story, written by a sick mind, seriously, especially since court records are public documents.
“This clarification is, however, necessary for the record and for the benefit of social media users who circulate fake news without fact-checking the details.
“The Media Office of His Excellency, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, hereby states that the report in circulation by one Daily Excessive blog, which quoted the former governor to have said that he would reveal to the world how President Tinubu became president, is not only misleading but also a confirmation of how unintelligent some unrelenting detractors of the former governor are.
“Every Nigerian following court proceedings, since the former governor submitted himself to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, knows that trial has not commenced in any of the cases. Former Governor Bello has only taken his plea at both courts.
“The court is an open place where journalists and other stakeholders monitor proceedings. This is the reason no informed Nigerian would even consider opening this sick report by an ‘excessive fake news purveyor’ called Daily Excessive. But a ‘conquered’ mind is a sick mind, so we understand the plight of these mischief makers.”
Bello is currently facing a 19-count charge slammed on him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for alleged money laundering amounting to N80.2 billion before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja.
He has been granted a N500 million bail.
He is also facing a 16-count charge for alleged mismanagement of state funds, embezzlement, and abuse of office, including his alleged involvement in a massive N110.4 billion fraud, alongside Umar Shuaibu Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu, before Justice Maryann Anenih of the Federal Capital Territory High Court sitting at Maitama.
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