LIBELLOUS, MALICIOUS AND FALSE PUBLICATION ON AND CONCERNING THE PERSON AND CHARACTER OF THE
HONOURABLE MINISTER OF STATE, PETROLEUM RESOURCES, NIGERIA, DR. EMMANUEL IBE KACHIKWU:
DEMAND FOR IMMEDIATE RETRACTION, APOLOGY AND PAYMENT OF DAMAGES

Sequel to an unsubstantiated online publication by “The Will Nigeria” online news platform published on Tuesday 12th September, 2017 alleging extensive bribery and money-laundering activities on the part of the Honorable Minister of State, Petroleum Resources, Dr. Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu has directed his legal team to issue a strong response to the report and in the same vein demanded a retraction of the report from the publishers. A detailed response from his legal team can be downloaded on either of these links: http:///libel-suit and http:///libelsuit (Also attached herein)

The Office of the Honorable Minister of State, Petroleum Resources on Tuesday 12th September, 2017 responded to the report immediately it was published by “The Will Nigeria” on its platform stating that the story was categorically false and baseless while demanding that it be retracted since it neither had any basis nor foundation. Also The Will Nigeria did not carry out any fact checks with the Office of the HMSPR. Failure to retract this concocted story immediately would have a legal response within the period cited.

It would be expedient to state that as at today Wednesday 13th September, 2017, the online news platform have neither responded nor retracted the story, therefore Dr. Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu’s legal team have written an official response to the publishers of The Will Nigeria requesting that the statement be retracted within the next 7 days or face legal action on a case of libel and defamation of character in the court of law.

Further information and communication on this issue would be handled going forward by Dr. Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu’s legal team.

Signed
Uche Ozurumba Adighibe
Technical Assistant (Media) to the Hon. Minister of State, Petroleum Resources
September 13, 2017
Abuja