Alleged Anti-Tinubu’s Victory: Buhari’s Nephew, Sabiu Tunde Yusuf Fights Back

…Demands N5bn from Hassan as damages for defamation

President Muhammadu Buhari’s nephew, Sabi’u Tunde Yusuf, believed to one of the closest aides to the president in Aso Rock Villa, Abuja has debunked allegations that he is leading a team of cabals working against the presidential interest the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its flagbearer, Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Sabi’u, who is popularly known as Tunde, spoke against the backdrop of allegations by some APC chieftains that include Governor Nasir El-Rufai and the convener of North-South Progressive Alliance, Alwan Hassan.

While El-Rufai did not mention names, Hassan however stated on Channels Television on Monday Sabi’u Tunde Yusuf was leveraging his closeness with his uncle, President Buhari to ensure that Tinubu does not win the elections, adding that the Personal Assistant to the president also has a significant influence on the new naira notes policy.

In the words of Hassan; “There is this kid called Sabi’u Tunde, he is the only one doing all these things. He is trying to use that opportunity of his closeness to the president. He could manipulate everything or anything he wants to.

“It is just sad that a boy of that age will be doing all these things without looking at examples of other people that had done these things and where they are today.

“Everything that is happening on these Naira notes is Sabi’u Tunde. He has spoken to a lot of people. He has told people that he is hell-bent on making sure we don’t win elections and that Asiwaju doesn’t win elections,” Hassan insisted.

But in a response to Hassan through his legal counsel, Sabi’u Tunde Yusuf is demanding Hassan to pay him N5 billion as damages for defamation just as he described Hassan’s allegations against him as “made-up, concocted, fabricated, fictitious and deliberately erroneous”.

The Personal Assistant to the president also wants an unequivocal retraction of the allegations stated by Hassan against him during the course of the television interview.

Yusuf specifically asked Hassan to tender a public apology vide the same channel(s) through which he stated (published) the initial defamatory remarks against him, stressing that both the retraction and public apology should be published in at least four newspapers with coverage and circulation across all geo-political zones in Nigeria.

These were contained in a letter by Sabi’u Tunde Yusuf through his solicitors, Wole Olanipekun & Co, addressed to Hassan, stressed that his publication was/is intended to reduce his estimation in the eyes of well-meaning people.

The letter further stated; “Presumably, your actions towards our client were eventuated by bad faith, spite and hatred. Our client’s reputation has been seriously damaged, and he has also suffered considerable distress and embarrassment.

“This is more so that, issues in respect of which you publicly laid the blame at the doorstep of our client are those which have garnered national attention and, in some reported instances, led to violent protests. Thus, your actions, in fact, put our client at risk of physical harm.”

“In the event that you do not comply with our client’s above legitimate demands within 21 days of receipt of this letter, our client reserves the right to resort to all means legally permissible under various laws which you are subject to municipally and globally to seek the appropriate redress relating to the unwarranted attacks on his person and ascription of derogatory falsehood to his character by you,” the letter stated.