Oshiomhole’s campaign DG refutes ex-convict report, demands retraction
By Zika Bobby
All Progressives Congress (APC) leader Edo North and Director General of Adams Oshiomhole Campaign Council, Abdulganiyu Lawani has refuted a story by SaharaReporters that he was convicted for armed robbery while in the military and sentenced to five years in jail at the Kirikiri Medium Correctional Centre, adding that the said report is spurious, malicious and libelous, as he seeks immediate retraction and apology.
According to Alh Lawani, “I don’t know how much was paid to those sponsored to attack my reputation with such a nasty publication devoid of all known journalistic ethics and principles. Balanced reportage requires that SaharaReporters should have heard my own side of the story before going public with such heavy allegations against my person. But, in an apparent rush to satisfy some persons, the publishers chose to sacrifice ethics on the ‘altar of Mammon’ Lawani said.”
Lawani who is a successful Freight Forwarder, Vice Chairman, Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) Seme Border Chapter, Chairman, Managing Director, De Millions Global Nig.Ltd, corporate member of the Council For the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN), a Dealership Director with NIPCO Plc and Chairman, Managing Director of ASY Petroleum Nig. Ltd said he has never been convicted for any offence in his entire life, let alone for armed robbery, whether in Nigeria or anywhere else in the world.
“For a start, armed robbery in Nigeria carries a minimum sentence of 21 years imprisonment but in their report I was sentenced for just five years.
“The truth of the matter is that I left the army 27 years ago for personal reasons. Since then I have been a private businessman and have never had cause to be investigated by the police or any other security agencies.
“In the light of the above, I hereby demand for a retraction of the said publication and writing apology which must be published in at least two national dailies.
“I remain the DG of Adams Oshiomhole Campaign Council as well as APC leader in Edo North. My task is to ensure that our leader, Adams Oshiomhole, wins the Senatorial position come 2023 and I’m working assiduously with the cooperation of other responsible and committed members of the Campaign Council to deliver on my mandate.”
