By our correspondent
The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has issued a formal demand for a retraction and public apology from The Punch and Daily Times newspapers over what it described as a false and defamatory report alleging that its Managing Director, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, was involved in a coup plot against the Federal Government.
In a letter signed by Chief Ayodeji Adedipe, SAN, of Adedipe and Adedipe Legal Practitioners, the Commission described the publication as “reckless, malicious, and entirely baseless.” The letter stated that the reports falsely claimed Dr. Ogbuku had been arrested by military intelligence for allegedly co-sponsoring a failed coup attempt against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and that he had used NDDC contract funds to finance the alleged plot.
According to Adedipe, “Dr. Ogbuku categorically denies these baseless claims. Neither he nor any staff of the Commission have been invited, arrested, or interrogated by any authority in connection with any alleged coup plot or financial misconduct.”
The Commission’s legal representatives said the publication amounted to a serious breach of journalistic ethics, as the media outlets failed to verify the story or seek the NDDC’s response before publication.
“The reckless and damaging report has caused Dr. Ogbuku and his family severe emotional distress, embarrassment, and reputational harm,” the letter stated, adding that friends and associates had expressed shock over the allegations.
The NDDC has therefore demanded the following from both newspapers:
1. Immediate retraction of the publication across all print, online, and social media platforms; and
2. A written apology published in at least four national newspapers and in five consecutive editions of The Punch and Daily Times, including their digital platforms.
The Commission warned that failure to comply within seven days of receiving the legal notice would prompt legal action. It said Dr. Ogbuku would seek redress through both civil and criminal proceedings under the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015 (as amended in 2024) and other relevant Nigerian laws.
Reaffirming its loyalty to the Federal Government, the NDDC stated that it remains focused on advancing development in the Niger Delta through President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and upholding the highest standards of transparency and accountability in public service.
The Commission’s Legal Counsel urged the public to disregard the “false and misleading” report and rely only on verified information issued through official NDDC communication channels.
