The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has demanded an immediate 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 linked to a purported coup plot against the Federal Government.
In a letter issued by the Commission’s Legal Counsel, Adedipe and Adedipe Legal Practitioners, and signed by Chief Ayodeji Adedipe, SAN, the NDDC described the publication as malicious, reckless, and a gross violation of journalistic ethics.
According to the legal notice, the report falsely claimed that Dr Ogbuku was arrested by military intelligence for allegedly co-sponsoring a failed coup plot against President Bola Tinubu and that funds from NDDC contracts were used to finance the purported plot.
“These allegations are entirely false, malicious, and defamatory,” Chief Adedipe stated. “Dr Ogbuku categorically denies these baseless claims. He has not been arrested, invited, or interrogated by any authority in connection with any alleged coup plot or financial misconduct.”
The letter further noted that The Punch and Daily Times failed to seek clarification or verify the allegations with either Dr Ogbuku or the NDDC before publication, describing the act as reckless and damaging.
It added that the false report had caused severe emotional distress, embarrassment, and reputational harm to Dr Ogbuku, his family, and associates.
Through his legal representatives, Dr Ogbuku has therefore demanded that The Punch, its editor Awwal Owolabi, and The Daily Times:
- Retract the defamatory publication from all print, online, and social media platforms immediately; and
- Publish an unreserved apology in at least four national newspapers and in five consecutive editions of The Punch, including all its associated platforms.
The letter warned that failure to comply within seven days of receipt of the legal notice would compel Dr Ogbuku to initiate civil and criminal proceedings against the publications, citing provisions of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015 (as amended in 2024) and other relevant Nigerian laws.
Reaffirming its commitment to national unity and good governance, the NDDC stated that it remained focused on the development of the Niger Delta region and the promotion of peace, transparency, and accountability.
“We urge members of the public to disregard the said false report in its entirety and rely only on verified information from the Commission’s official communication channels,” said Seledi Thompson-Wakama, NDDC’s Director of Corporate Affairs.