A retired Army Major and former Ogori-Magonogo local government chairman , Olafimihan Akerejola, has vowed to take legal action against an online media outlet, People’s Gazette over a publication against serving officer, Major General Erema Akerejola of corruption, financial impropriety and misconduct.
Addressing a press conference on Thursday in Lokoja, he noted that the said publication has caused him serious embarrassment with countless calls from friends and associates within and outside Nigeria as a result of the said publication.
Akerejola urged the Nigerian Army, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, media platforms, and the general public to disregard the story in its entirety as it relates to him, saying that a communication has also been sent to the Publisher of People’s Gazette to retract the malicious and false publication.
“The crux of this press conference is to respond to a recently published misleading, damaging and malicious publication by People’s Gazette titled “Exclusive”: Nigerian Army General Akerejola’s family accuses him of looting soldiers’ budget to run private firms, buy million-dollar US property.
“This press conference becomes necessary because the said publication dangerously maligned my primary constituency, the Nigerian Military and It Is an embarrassment to my person. | have received countless calls from within and outside Nigeria as a result of the publication
“Those who know me, know that by my professional training, | am not the type that fight battles like a coward. Whatever | do, | own up to it. For the avoidance of doubt, | will say that the petition which I know nothing about, has really cast me in very bad light
“The said publication falsely claims that |, Major Olafimihan Akerejola (Rtd), authored a petition to anti-graft agencies accusing Major General Erema Akerejola of corruption, financial impropriety and misconduct
“For the avoidance of doubt, | am here saying it categorically that | had no hand whatsoever In the writing or submission of any such petition. The claims linking me to said petition are completely false, unfounded, and misleading” he said
The former local government chairman lamented that the most unfortunate part of it all, was that People’s Gazette threw to the dogs the basic demand of their professional calling to reach out to him before rushing to press, noting that it is a clear indication that the whole thing was a hatchet job.
“At least, I should have been consulted or contacted by the publishers before the story was published. I have since reached out to them demanding a retraction” he said
He described the publication as false, unfounded, and misleading, suggesting that he authored a petition against Major General Erema Akerejola who is the current Director of Army Logistics, at the Army Headquarters, Abuja.
