The suspended managing director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) Hadiza Usman has threatened to take legal action against Sahara Reporters over the online newspaper’s barrage of attacks against her.
Usman said in a statement on Friday made available to Qed.ng that the publication has in the past two weeks spread false stories to damage her reputation and her family’s integrity.
“On Thursday May 20, 2021, Sahara Reporters published a story with the headline: ‘Budget report indicts ex-NPA boss, Usman shows unapproved N831million spent on hotels in 2016,2017.’ This story shows the relentless war that the publication is waging against my personality for reasons best known to them,” she wrote.
“The fact is that the NPA has its audited financial statements for the years 2016, 2017 and 2018. These statements have the authentic figures of the Authority’s expenditure over those years.
“However, rather than seek the authentic statements, Sahara Reporters have depended on snapshots of documents that are unauthenticated, apparently because they fit the already concocted and devious narratives that they love to sell to the public.”
Usman also addressed a video released by the publication on Thursday which alleged she built an edifice in Zaria, Kaduna State while in office as NPA MD.
“Again, this story is total falsehood, and a pathetic reflection of what Sahara Reporters has become,” she said.
“I challenge the publication to produce any document that links me with this building.
“More importantly, it is time to serve notice on Sahara Reporters and its cohorts to desist from publishing unfounded stories targeted at tarnishing my image.
“I have chosen to maintain a calm mien to this consistent falsehood, conscious of the demand of accountability, which national service places on me.
“However, there is always a limit to which one can endure this needless perpetuation of falsehood.
“I will take legal action against Sahara Reporters if it continues in this manner.”
