Ali Modu Sheriff, former governor of Borno state, has denied claims that he accused Vice-President Kashim Shettima of creating Boko Haram, describing the report as “false, malicious, and dangerous”.
A publication circulating online had quoted Sheriff as saying, “It’s not me; it’s Shettima who created Boko Haram.”
Checks by TheCable show that the report was first published in August 2016.
But in a statement issued on Saturday, Sheriff dismissed the report as a “complete fabrication” aimed at misleading the public and stirring political discord.
“The said story is a complete fabrication, devoid of truth, and a deliberate attempt to mislead the public, malign the person of Senator Sheriff, and sow discord within the nation’s political landscape,” the statement reads.
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Sheriff said he never granted any interview or spoke to any journalist on the matter, adding that the falsehood was designed to undermine his long-standing commitment to peace and national unity.
“This false report is not only mischievous but also a dangerous piece of fake news aimed at undermining years of Senator Sheriff’s contributions to peace, national unity, and development, both in Borno State and across Nigeria,” the statement added.
The former governor urged members of the public and the media to disregard the publication, noting that he had directed his legal team to identify and pursue those behind the story.
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“Senator Sheriff has instructed his legal team to take immediate steps to identify all individuals, bloggers, or media outlets responsible for the dissemination of this defamatory material,” his media office said.
“Should the false publication not be retracted and taken down forthwith, the Senator will not hesitate to seek full legal redress under the law.”
Sheriff reaffirmed his commitment to Nigeria’s security, stability, and democratic values and vowed to ensure that the spread of misinformation does not go unpunished.
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