By: Monday Danladi, Bauchi
The Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to Bauchi State Governor on Internal Security, Liman Babayo Othman Abubakar (Babayo Liman) accused of holding dual Government appointments simultaneously as Chief Executive E Officer (Accounts) SGL 14, Office of the Accountant – General of the Federation (posted to the Accounts Department of the Federal Ministry of Works, Jos, Plateau State, while allegedly receiving double salaries from both Federal and Bauchi State Governments, has denied the allegations describing it as baseless, unfounded and unsubstantiated.
Babayo Liman made the denial through a letter written by his Solicitors, copies of which were made available to Journalists in Bauchi on Tuesday.
The letter, addressed to the State Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), reads: “We are solicitors to Babayo Liman of Bauchi town, Bauchi State (hereinafter referred to as “our client”) and it is on his behalf that we write you as hereunder.”
The letter further contained that, “Sir, our client has been inundated with numerous phone calls from friends, relatives and other eminent persons over a false and reputation destroying rumor/narrative which emanated from the law firm of G. Hassan & Co in Bauchi, Bauchi State, Sahara Reporters, and numerous social and print media platforms within and outside Bauchi State,”
According to the letter signed by Nathan Umide Esq (Managing Partner), it contained that,”Sir, the false narrative being bandied about regarding our client is that he is a staff of the Federal Government in salaried employment and at the
same time an appointee serving with the Bauchi State Government receiving double salary from both bodies.”
“Sir, our client initially took these rumours as the utterances of attention seekers and noise makers seeking relevance or social media clicks, but the level these false and reputation destroying narratives have descended to necessitates our responding to, on behalf of our client and these persons seeking to destroy our client and his hard earned reputation have involved your esteemed agency,” it added.
The Solicitors explained that,”Sir, our client is not indebted to the Federal Government in any way form or manner during the period of his political appointment contrary to the rumours to same.
The above fact can be verified from the relevant Federal Government of Nigeria Ministry.”
According to the Solicitors,”Our client is currently awaiting the receipt from the Federal Government of Nigeria, a certificate of non-liability. The non-receipt of the above certificate is what has made our client to lay-low and not respond to the above rumors from the law firm mentioned above as well as the print and social media platforms, but the involvement of your agency has forced our client hand to issue this response.”
The Solicitors added, “Furthermore Sir, the fact of non-liability can equally be obtained from the Bauchi State Government as our client had already submitted all relevant documents regarding those damaging rumors to Bauchi State Government.”
“Sir, we had expected those spreading these rumors to await the press release or report from either the Federal Government of Nigeria whom the rumor claims our client received the salaries from or Bauchi State Government,” it added.
The Solicitors added, “Sir, only these two (2) bodies are the ones to comment on this most vexing issue and not individual or persons who are not privy to the internal workings or machination of the above Bodies.”
The letter further contained, “Sir, the rumours flying about against our client is only geared to tarnish and destroy his image by those he has stopped from extorting the poor and hardworking roadside traders.”
“Sir, we pray that you call the persons and bodies spreading these false narratives to order and ask them to await the response to/outcome of their letters to the Federal Government of Nigeria and Bauchi State,” the Solicitors added.
The Solicitors added,”It should also be pointed out to them that defamation of character is a crime in Nigeria and so is cyber stalking and bullying. Our client will not hesitate further to take legal action against all persons and Bodies involved in this calculated attempt to destroy his person and reputation.
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