I Have No Relationship With Late Yusuf Or The Dreaded Boko Haram Sect — Jerry Gana, Asks NSCIA To Retract Comment

Jerry Gana, a former minister of information, has asked the
Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) to retract its
comment allegedly linking him with Mohammed Yusuf, the late founder
of Boko Haram.

The NSCIA, in defence of Isa Pantami, minister of communications
who had come under fire for once holding views in support of terror
groups, had claimed that a former Christian minister, in 2008,
bailed Yusuf thrice.

Although the NSCIA did not mention the minister’s name,
Joe-Kyari Gadzama, a senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and counsel
to Gana, in a letter to NSCIA dated April 29, 2021, said people
knew the council was referring to his client.

He maintained that Gana does not have any relationship with the
Boko Haram founder.

“We hereby restate, on behalf of our Client, that contrary to
your referenced false statements, our Client never at any point in
time bailed, stood as surety and/or facilitated the release of late
Mr. Mohammed Yusuf in any way, manner, shape or form,” the letter
reads.

“Our Client does not have any relationship with the late Yusuf
or the dreaded Boko Haram sect and he has never met him before. Our
Client is not and has never been a friend, supporter and/or member
of Boko-Haram as suggested and/or inferred in the Press Statement
credited to the NSCIA. Our Client does not know Muhammed Yusuf.

“As you are aware, your Press Statement has since gone viral on
all social media platforms and has become a sensational topic of
discussion by millions of people in and out of the Country who have
access to various media platforms.

“As can be seen from the reactions and ensuing conversations on
social media, your false statements which referred to our Client
were indeed understood by ordinary members of the public to mean
that our Client is a terrorist, Boko Haram member, sponsor, enabler
and supporter of the sect and its activities.

“Clearly, the highlighted statements contained in the said Press
Statement have portrayed our Client in bad light and tarnished his
hard earned reputation which he has built over the years.

“We hereby restate, at the risk of repetition, that our Client —
Prof. Jerry Gana, CON — never at anytime hailed the late Yusuf. Our
Client does not know the late Yusuf, he has never met him before,
and he has no links and/or affiliation whatsoever to Boko
Haram.”

The lawyer, on behalf of Gana, demanded immediate apology and
retraction of the statement from the NSCIA.

Jerry Gana, a former minister of information, has asked the
Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) to retract its
comment allegedly linking him with Mohammed Yusuf, the late founder
of Boko Haram.

The NSCIA, in defence of Isa Pantami, minister of communications
who had come under fire for once holding views in support of terror
groups, had claimed that a former Christian minister, in 2008,
bailed Yusuf thrice.

Although the NSCIA did not mention the minister’s name,
Joe-Kyari Gadzama, a senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and counsel
to Gana, in a letter to NSCIA dated April 29, 2021, said people
knew the council was referring to his client.

He maintained that Gana does not have any relationship with the
Boko Haram founder.

“We hereby restate, on behalf of our Client, that contrary to
your referenced false statements, our Client never at any point in
time bailed, stood as surety and/or facilitated the release of late
Mr. Mohammed Yusuf in any way, manner, shape or form,” the letter
reads.

“Our Client does not have any relationship with the late Yusuf
or the dreaded Boko Haram sect and he has never met him before. Our
Client is not and has never been a friend, supporter and/or member
of Boko-Haram as suggested and/or inferred in the Press Statement
credited to the NSCIA. Our Client does not know Muhammed Yusuf.

“As you are aware, your Press Statement has since gone viral on
all social media platforms and has become a sensational topic of
discussion by millions of people in and out of the Country who have
access to various media platforms.

“As can be seen from the reactions and ensuing conversations on
social media, your false statements which referred to our Client
were indeed understood by ordinary members of the public to mean
that our Client is a terrorist, Boko Haram member, sponsor, enabler
and supporter of the sect and its activities.

“Clearly, the highlighted statements contained in the said Press
Statement have portrayed our Client in bad light and tarnished his
hard earned reputation which he has built over the years.

“We hereby restate, at the risk of repetition, that our Client —
Prof. Jerry Gana, CON — never at anytime hailed the late Yusuf. Our
Client does not know the late Yusuf, he has never met him before,
and he has no links and/or affiliation whatsoever to Boko
Haram.”

The lawyer, on behalf of Gana, demanded immediate apology and
retraction of the statement from the NSCIA.