The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has issued a formal demand to The Punch and Daily Times newspapers to retract and apologise for publishing what it described as a false and defamatory report linking the Commission’s Managing Director, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, to an alleged coup plot.
In a letter by its legal counsel, Adedipe and Adedipe Legal Practitioners, signed by Chief Ayodeji Adedipe, SAN, the Commission condemned the publications as malicious and damaging, insisting they contained no factual basis.
According to the letter, the newspapers had falsely claimed that Dr Ogbuku was arrested by military intelligence for purportedly co-sponsoring a failed coup attempt against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and that he allegedly financed the plot using NDDC contract funds.
Chief Adedipe stated: “These allegations are entirely false, malicious, and defamatory. Dr Ogbuku categorically denies the claims. Neither he nor any staff member of the Commission has been invited, arrested, or questioned by any authority in connection with any alleged coup plot or financial misconduct.”
The Commission described the publication as a gross violation of journalistic ethics, noting that no attempt was made by the newspapers to contact Dr Ogbuku or verify the story before publishing it.
It further stated that the report caused the NDDC boss and his family emotional distress and reputational damage, with numerous associates and colleagues reaching out in shock over the false claims.
Consequently, NDDC has demanded that The Punch and Daily Times take the following actions: Immediately retract the defamatory story from all print, online, and social media platforms; and publish a written apology in at least four national newspapers and in five consecutive editions of both The Punch and Daily Times, including all associated online and digital platforms.
The letter warned that failure to comply within seven days of receiving the legal notice would compel Dr Ogbuku to initiate civil and criminal proceedings under the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015 (as amended in 2024) and other relevant Nigerian laws.
Reaffirming its commitment to peace, transparency, and regional development under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Commission urged the public to disregard the false publication and rely solely on verified information from its official channels.
