November 13, (THEWILL) – The Chairman of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) in Kano State, Alhaji Hashimu Suleiman Dungurawa, says he is not aware of any letter from Senator Kawu Sumaila, asking him to apologise for an alleged libellous statement he made against him.
“I have not received any letter and no letter was addressed to me on the issue by anybody whatsoever”, Dungurawa told newsmen in Kano on Wednesday.
He described the said letter as a “rumour created by the enemy, supported by ignorance and accepted by fools, and I am not part of any of the above.”
He warned that the NNPP would not condone anti-party activities by any member of the party including those holding political offices.
The chairman said the NNPP has always ensured a level playing ground for all members of the party to pursue their legitimate ambitions and, therefore, expects absolute loyalty from them.
On the reported crisis in the state branch of the party, Dungurawa stated that the NNPP remains “one hundred percent strong and united.”
He said all the noise about the crisis in the party is just an indication that the NNPP is the winning party, strong, promising and united.
THEWILL recalls that Senator Kawu Sumaila had threatened to sue Dungurawa over a “libellous allegation” he made against him.
The threat is contained in a letter addressed to Dungurawa by Sunusi Musa (SAN), Managing Partner, Aliyu & Musa (SAN) Legal practitioners and Consultants.
In the letter which was dated Nov.12, the Solicitors said among other things that “we act as solicitors to Senator Suleiman Abdulrahman Kawu Sumaila “our client”, who is presently a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, representing Kano South Senatorial District. It is on his instruction that we write this letter.
“The attention of our client was drawn to a radio programme being broadcast at Freedom Radio, frequency 99.5 FM, which is also on the Facebook page of the radio station and is being listened to from any part of the world. The voice clip is also published to various individuals and groups on WhatsApp and Telegram platforms in all parts of the world.
“By this letter demanding you, on behalf of our client, to, within 24 hours of receipt of this letter, retract the allegation in the same manner you made it”, the legal practitioners said.
They asked the NNPP chairman to also give the retraction wide publicity as he did to the interview, “and a public apology to our client in two National dailies.”
“If you fail to accede to our demand within the stipulated time, our client will be compelled to seek legal redress in a court of law”, the lawyers added.
Abdullahi Yusuf is a seasoned journalist, communicator and was previously the Deputy Editor-In-Chief and Zonal Manager, News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, Jos, where he retired on December 15, 2021
