DSS demands retraction, apology over alleged libelous publication by The Peoples Gazette Ltd

DSS demands retraction, apology over alleged libelous publication by The Peoples Gazette Ltd

By: Zagazola Makama

The Department of State Services (DSS) has demanded an immediate retraction and public apology from The Peoples Gazette Ltd. over a publication alleging the involvement of its Director-General, Mr. Adeola Oluwatosin Ajayi, in the purported abduction and forced resignation of a top NNPC official.

The demand was contained in a letter signed by Chief Ayodeji Adedipe, SAN, counsel to the DSS and its Director-General, and addressed to the management of the Abuja-based online newspaper.

The letter, made available on Wednesday, referred to an August 2 publication titled: “EFCC, SSS abduct NNPC boss Bayo Ojulari, force him to sign resignation letter after directive from Bola Tinubu’s paramour Olatimbo Ayinde”.

The publication, which included photographs of Mr. Ajayi, the EFCC Chairman, Mr. Ola Olukoyede, and one Olatimbo Ayinde, alleged that the DSS and EFCC were involved in the abduction and coercion of Mr. Bayo Ojulari, the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd. (NNPC), to resign his position.

According to the letter, the DSS described the publication as “entirely false, unfounded, libelous and malicious,” stating that it portrayed the agency as “irresponsible and reckless,” and its Director-General as “a hatchet man” allegedly used to harass and intimidate Mr. Ojulari.

The letter further noted that the media outlet failed to verify the claims in its report or seek any clarification from the agency or its Director-General before publication, describing the quoted sources as “questionable and contrived.”

“Our clients have been grievously maligned and injured in their integrity and character,” the letter stated, adding that the publication had triggered public outrage and caused reputational harm to the agency and its leadership.

The DSS is demanding:An immediate retraction of the publication from all platforms and an unreserved public apology, also published across the same platforms.

The legal team warned that failure to comply within 48 hours of receipt of the letter would lead to civil and criminal actions in accordance with the provisions of the Cybercrimes Act of 2015 (as amended).

DSS demands retraction, apology over alleged libelous publication by The Peoples Gazette Ltd