Retract defamatory comments or face legal action, Emefiele warns Akpabio

Former Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, has threatened to take legal action against Incumbent Senate President Godswill Akpabio for what he alleges is defamation of character and unguarded utterance of derogatory statement.

Akpabio, speaking at Senator Barinada Mpigi’s thanksgiving service in Koroma, Tai Local Government Area, Rivers State on February 18, made certain remarks implying that Emefiele’s administration had contributed to Nigeria’s present economic challenges under President Tinubu.

However, this did not sit well with the former CBN boss and In response, through his legal representative Mathew Burkaa (SAN), issued a letter to Akpabio demanding a written apology published in the media or prepare to face a lawsuit.

In the letter dated February 19, Emefiele asserted that Akpabio’s comments portrayed him as the cause of Nigeria’s hardships, which he deemed defamatory and damaging to his reputation,  further emphasizing the sensitivity of the matter as it could prejudice his ongoing trial, and he called for respect for the court’s independence.

In addition, Emefiele criticized Akpabio for attributing Nigeria’s economic woes solely to him, while pointing out Akpabio’s past roles and his own limited autonomy in decision-making during his tenure.

The former CBN governor’s legal team urged Akpabio to retract his statement and issue a public apology, warning of legal action if he failed to comply.