The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has demanded an immediate retraction and public apology from The Punch and Daily Times newspapers over what it described as a false and defamatory publication linking its Managing Director, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, to an alleged coup plot against the Federal Government.
In a strongly worded legal notice issued through its solicitors, Adedipe and Adedipe Legal Practitioners, and signed by Chief Ayodeji Adedipe (SAN), the Commission described the publication as “reckless, baseless, and malicious.”
According to the letter, the newspapers falsely alleged that Dr. Ogbuku had been arrested by military intelligence for purportedly co-sponsoring a failed coup plot against President Bola Tinubu. The report also claimed that funds from NDDC contracts were diverted to finance the alleged coup attempt.
“These allegations are entirely false, malicious, and defamatory,” Chief Adedipe stated. “Dr. Ogbuku categorically denies these baseless claims. He has not been arrested, invited, or interrogated by any authority in connection with any alleged coup plot or financial misconduct.”
The letter noted that no attempt was made by the newspapers to contact Dr. Ogbuku or the NDDC for verification before publishing the story, describing such conduct as a grave violation of journalistic ethics.
“This reckless and damaging report has caused Dr. Ogbuku and his family severe emotional distress, embarrassment, and reputational harm,” Adedipe added. “Friends, associates, and colleagues have inundated him with calls expressing shock and concern over the false claims.”
Through his legal representatives, Dr. Ogbuku has therefore demanded that The Punch, its editor Awwal Owolabi, and Daily Times immediately take the following actions:
- Retract the defamatory publication 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 The Punch Newspaper, including on all their associated platforms.
The letter warned that failure to comply within seven days of receiving the legal notice would leave Dr. Ogbuku with no option but to initiate both civil and criminal proceedings against the newspapers and their editors under the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015 (as amended in 2024) and other relevant laws.
The NDDC reiterated its commitment to the peace, stability, and development of the Niger Delta region, emphasizing that it remains dedicated to transparency, accountability, and good governance.
“We therefore urge members of the public to disregard the said false report in its entirety and rely only on verified information from the Commission’s official communication channels,” the Commission’s Director of Corporate Affairs, Seledi Thompson-Wakama, said in a statement.
The development comes amid heightened public interest following recent social media rumours about alleged coup plots in Nigeria—claims the authorities have repeatedly dismissed as baseless and mischievous.
