The suspended Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr Betta Edu, has threatened to file a lawsuit against the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) for defaming her personality.

Edu disclosed this in a letter sent to BBC Abuja and London offices by her counsel, Chikaosolu Ojukwu (SAN).

According to the letter, the suspended minister claimed that BBC reported that N30 billion was retrieved from her in the ongoing probe by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).


The lawyer alleged that the[b] publication which he described as false had dented the reputation of his client, Edu.
[/b]


[b]Ojukwu asked BBC to retract the article and tender a public apology to Edu over the matter within 48 hours, saying that, “Our client has suffered immeasurable reputational damage, psychological trauma and anguish as a direct consequence of the publication and dissemination of the article,” [/b]the letter read.

Edu is also demanding 50 million dollars from the UK-based media organisation as compensation, and threatened to take legal action against BBC.



The letter received by Vanguard read, “We represent Dr. Betta Edu, the Hon. Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation of Nigeria (hereinafter referred to as “our client”) and we have her express instructions to write you in the terms thereunder.



“We write to express our deep concern regarding the recent article published by the BBC on its website: www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-Africa (Last accessed on 9th April 2024 at 17:40 GMT) titled: “Betta Edu Probe: Nigeria Recover $24m in Poverty Minister Investigation- EFCC” with the byline “Nigeria Has Recovered 30bn Naira ($24m; £19m) as Part of an Ongoing Corruption probe Into a Suspended Minister, the Financial Watchdog Says”.

“The aforesaid article, which presents information purporting to relate to an ongoing corruption probe into the activities of the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation in Nigeria, is replete with innuendoes and insinuations which suggest that N30bn has been recovered in the course of the ongoing investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) from our client and that the 50 bank accounts connected with the recovered sums are linked to our client.

“Furthermore, your article proceeds to cast aspersion on our client by referencing her earlier suspension (to allow for unfettered investigations) in the following terms: “Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation Minister Betta Edu was initially suspended in January over the alleged diversion of $640,000 of public money into a personal bank account.”


“First and foremost, the language used in describing our client’s purported involvement in the alleged corruption case suggests guilt without allowing for the presumption of innocence, which is fundamental in any fair and unbiased reporting. The reckless manner in which the article was crafted, without providing our client with the opportunity to respond to the allegations before its wide publication, is a clear breach of journalistic fairness and due process and demonstrates a complete disregard for journalistic integrity and professionalism.

“The headline, content, and tone of the article imply guilt on the part of our client, without any concrete evidence to substantiate such claims. This is a blatant attempt to tarnish our client’s reputation and undermine her credibility which she has earned over the course of her distinguished career in both private and public life.

“For the avoidance of doubt, our client has neither been indicted nor found culpable of any act of financial impropriety in relation to her stewardship of the Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation Ministry in Nigeria. It is also pertinent to emphasize that neither N30 billion nor any amount whatsoever has been traced to or recovered from our client’s bank accounts nor has any proceed of crime been traced or recovered from her to warrant the scurrilous article under reference.

“Suffice it to say that in the aftermath of the publication of this scandalous article (which the BBC caused to be disseminated to millions of persons across the globe), our client has been inundated by calls and messages from friends, associates expressing their shock and consternation. Our client has suffered immeasurable reputational damage, psychological trauma and anguish as a direct consequence of the publication and dissemination of the article.”

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2024/04/betta-edu-threatens-to-sue-bbc-over-alleged-defamation/amp/

Yeye dey smell you steal money abi you didn’t

Small yansh dey shake

She better pray nothing of worth is traced to her name in Europe, or else by the time the UK is done with her, she will require GoFundMe to be able to afford those her thick make-up. She thinks those people are like Nigerians. She should first pay a visit to Ekweremadu.

Dey play…..

Ole nla (big thief).

See shameless thief

I agree with her even though I don't agree with what they said she did. I don't want media trials, we need to separate facts from fiction. This was how they accused Emefiele of everything until he started to sue. Before it was Dasuki, it was also Abacha. In this Nigeria if you're not careful, they will just be hanging a dead man again and again while they are the criminals

This lady want to hammer by fire by force by demanding 50 million dollars after threatening to take legal action against BBC.

She should have told BBC to do a retraction or correction by first informing them like, "this is the amount I was found to have stolen and not 30 billion."Thereafter she can then threaten them with legal action if they refuse to do the retraction and correction.

The audacity of a criminal. This Betta Edu case is gradually tilting away like the Gandollar own.

.

Na only for Nigeria you go see thieves wey no get even small shame for bodi.

so this one dey fight back. hahahhahah

why dem no remove TUNJI-OJO for christ sakes

honestly, they are becoming too bold. like it is their money

Kelklein:
Nigeria is a wild place..

Like, the audacity of those that steal your money scares me..

Like whaaaaattt!!!

Sue them for every penny.
They should fact-check their stories before running to press.
The average Nigerian will not read the whole story, they will just run around telling people that 30 Billion was recovered from her account which is not true. They are insinuating that she stole 30 Billion and it was recovered by EFCC. That;s damaging to her reputation, especially among Nigerians who will not take time to read in detail what actually happened.

All these plenty oxfordian grammar just to save face small.
Madam, I don't give a rat's ass about your reputation, investigative fairness or whatever. The fact remains, when you were transferring the money, protocols were breached...so...
Ole 30 billion.
Besides, what about that other criminal, hadiza bala usman wey feed school children at the peak of covid?

TOPCRUISE:
This lady want to hammer by fire by force by demanding 50 million dollars after threatening to take legal action against BBC.

She should have told BBC to do a retraction or correction by first informing them like, "this is the amount I was found to have stolen and not 30 billion."Thereafter she can then threaten them with legal action if they don't do the retraction and correction.

She gree admit say she steal money ne?

RingRoadCartel:
She better pray nothing of worth is traced to her name in Europe, or else, by the time the UK is done with her, she will require GoFundMe to be able to afford those her thick make-up. She thinks those people are like Nigerians. She should first pay a visit to Ekweremadu.

Stop this trash.
She knows her worth.
If you want to take an action, do so without fear of consequences.

Your kind is the type why men are considered weak these days. Anuofia

The moment I saw how fresh this young lady looked,when I learnt she was only in her mid thirties when she was been screened by the senators I just conclude say problem go dey,she go need more bar to upgrade her looks.Deziani just stroll pass my heart dah year.

Hmm...she shouldn't start what she cant finish if not it will end in more disgrace for her...you have audacity to steal and still go ahead to prove what?

Callosobruchus:
The moment I saw how fresh this young lady looked,when I learnt she was only in her mid thirties when she was been screened by the senators I just conclude say problem go dey,she go need more bar to upgrade her looks.Deziani just stroll pass my heart dah year.

you saw it coming
And na calabar babe

If sue them they will dig more into her case. So i pray she sue them. Shameless thief

This one still has mouth to sue

Bobloco:


https://www.vanguardngr.com/2024/04/betta-edu-threatens-to-sue-bbc-over-alleged-defamation/amp/

Lawyer and Betta Edu wan cash out $50M from BBC..

Dis people sef , no get shame were money dey..

rayvelez:
Yeye dey smell you steal money abi you didn’t

She didn't steal money!

This criminal still get mouth?

Wizpa:
This bloody hypocritical religious Jezebellic thief also think she has a voice

This useless Leech that converted what was meant for poor masses for her own personal, selfish gains wants to Leech of BBC.

Person wey suppose don dey Jail by now!!

U are such a dullard...

U just believe everything u read on media with sentiments attached.

.

Bobloco:


https://www.vanguardngr.com/2024/04/betta-edu-threatens-to-sue-bbc-over-alleged-defamation/amp/

Don't threaten them just sue them, useless individual occupying just small post na embezzlement go follow