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The Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Hadiza Bala Usman has filled a N1 billion suit at Federal High Court Abuja against a journalist, Prince Henry Nwazuruahu Shield and his news website, Thebreakingtimes.com.
Usman is seeking N1billion in damages over an alleged false publication on the website.
The NPA boss picked exception to the report published on March 22, 2017 titled: “How El-Rufai and Hadiza Usman bribed APC Chieftains with $25,000 each to make him Vice President”.
“The story is false and a total fabrication geared towards tarnishing my hard earned reputation. I have today filed a suit at Federal High Court Abuja seeking for justice against these perpetrators of falsehood,” she said.
She added: “While I believe that the new media has inherent capacity to fact check and unmask fallacies peddled by unconscionable people, it does not have the capacity to undo the damages and hurt inflicted on victims.
“Only the Judiciary can mitigate and right that through its judgments, when approached by helpless victims. Justice is what I seek through my action in court today. I have overlooked many spurious claims against my person in the media in the past. I have been diligent and circumspect in my public life dealings.
“I have laboured to show integrity, transparency and accountability in all my ventures. I will not do differently in my present position as Managing Director of the Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA). And, I will not bow to blackmail either”.