Betta Edu, the suspended Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, has issued a stern warning to the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), threatening legal action for alleged defamation.
According to a letter signed by her counsel, Chikaosolu Ojukwu, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Edu demanded a whopping $50 million in compensation from the renowned media organization.
The letter, directed to both BBC’s Abuja and London offices, accuses the BBC of disseminating false information regarding an ongoing Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) investigation, alleging that N30 billion was recovered from the suspended minister.
According to the lawyer, the BBC’s publication has inflicted immeasurable reputational damage, psychological trauma, and anguish upon Edu.
The letter criticizes the BBC for its article, asserting that it implies guilt on Edu’s part without affording her the presumption of innocence.
Furthermore, the letter lambasts the BBC for breaching journalistic fairness and due process by failing to provide Edu with an opportunity to respond to the allegations before publishing the article.
“For the avoidance of doubt, our client has neither been indicted nor found culpable of any act of financial impropriety in relation to her stewardship of the Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation Ministry in Nigeria.