NSO boss writes to Talking Drums
Talking Drums has received a letter from solicitors in London who have been instructed through a firm of Nigerian lawyers on behalf of Alhaji Rafindadi, the Director General of Security in Nigeria."In the 25th February 1985 edition of your news magazine, in an article headed "Whispering Drums with Maigani. Dikko: One trial, many ripples", there are two paragraphs in which reference is made to our client.
We publish below excerpts from their letter and our reply:
In those paragraphs it is clearly stated, in terms, that our client together with one Tunde Idiagbon, was fully aware of the plot to kidnap Mr Dikko, and that our client and Mr Idiagbon, together with a "Mr A", hatched the plot between them: It is further suggested that the motive behind the plot was that our client should become Chief of Staff or "something more important than his present position".
Our client was not involved in the kidnap plot nor was he aware of such a plot. He would not condone or in any way be associated with such international lawlessness, or be a party to such an infringement of the sovereignty of a friendly state. The incident did serious damage to the reputation of the Nigerian Government and people, and our client is greatly offended at being accused of responsibility for it. That accusation has done serious damage to his reputation.
The words are clearly defamatory of our client, linking him as they do with a serious crime, and we would ask that you agree to publish a full retraction and apology, the wording of which must be agreed with us. In addition we require that you pay our client's legal costs and also damages.
Our instructions are that failing agreement to the requests in this letter within the time limit, we are to issue legal proceedings...
Editor's Reply:
I am afraid I don't share your opinion that the article you referred to in any way defamed your client Alhaji Rafindadi the Director General of Security in Nigeria.From all the letters, articles and commentaries we have received on the Dikko affair, some of which we have carried, the arguments have all been aimed at trying to unravel a phenomenon of immense proportions which has aroused world-wide interest. Aspects of the matter still being discussed by our readers include the role of the Israeli nationals, the Nigeria Airways and the Nigeria High Commission in London.
I agree with the assessment in your letter of the kidnap plot being an example of international lawlessness and it having done serious damage to the reputation of the Nigerian Government. Your client Alhaji Rafindadi, the Director General of Security in Nigeria as a highly placed member of the Nigerian Government will, no doubt, in the proper forum have to throw more light on the incident and clear the mysteries, which unfortunately still remain because the kidnappers pleaded guilty at the Old Bailey trial, as a result of which evidence was not heard.
Luckily for all concerned, in the contemplated action in the English courts the Nigerian government Decree No. 4 (in which the publication of the truth will land you in jail for two years so long as it embarrasses a member of government) will not apply, nor will the forum be a Military Tribunal.
Between the lines...
Counterfraud in Countertrade
Have you ever bothered to ask:Why the public is never told the details
Who and who initiated and promoted the deal
The quarrel currently raging on the demand for kickback
Who and who are the intermediaries and what their relationship is with some of those at the top.
Why only x number of banks were specially selected to handle the entire transaction.
Who and who have been given the contract for shipping the goods,
what is the relationship between the owners of the selected shipping lines and some of those at the top?
… But, of course, to ask is to be "unpatriotic and subversive" to the state - or is it private estate?
