The family of Major General Erema Akerejola and the Ogori Descendants Union (ODU) have issued a stern 14-day ultimatum to online newspaper Peoples Gazette, demanding a public retraction and apology over what they describe as a “libelous and malicious attack” on the senior army officer’s integrity.
This follows the publication of a widely circulated Peoples Gazette report alleging that General Akerejola looted millions of naira intended for soldiers’ welfare, purportedly funnelling the funds through family-linked companies abroad. At a world press conference held in Lokoja on Friday, the family and ODU dismissed the allegations as “false, unfounded, and defamatory.”
Speaking on their behalf, legal counsel Barrister Ndakwo Abdulrahman Tanko said, “There is no responsible family that destroys her breadwinner. The report is a character assassination built on lies and sensationalism. We are demanding a retraction in two national newspapers within 14 days, or we will meet them in court.”
Retired Major Olafimihan Akerejola, whom the Gazette had named as the author of the original petition, also publicly refuted the claims, stating,“ I had no hand in any petition. I was not contacted by Peoples Gazette. The story is completely false and has brought me and my family serious embarrassment.”
The family underscored General Akerejola’s record of distinguished military service and philanthropic work, including the sponsorship of over 200 students in the Ogori community.
“You cannot erase a legacy of service with a lie,” Barr. Tanko insisted, criticising what he described as a trend of reckless journalism.
The Ogori Professional Progressive Union and the ODU used the opportunity to call on the media to uphold professionalism, urging reporters to refrain from enabling media trials without concrete evidence.
As the 14-day deadline begins, the family and community say their resolve is unwavering: retract the report, or face legal consequences.
Melissa Enoch
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