Nigerian billionaire Femi Otedola has sued Umar Sani, the former spokesperson to ex-Vice President Namadi Sambo. He filed a ₦1 billion lawsuit, accusing Sani of spreading false information about him.
Sani had claimed that Otedola benefitted from the fuel subsidy scheme and gave marked money to former lawmaker Farouk Lawan during a sting operation. Otedola rejected the claim and said it was a deliberate lie. “Because of these false allegations, I have instructed my lawyers to file a ₦1 billion libel suit against Umar Sani. Reputations are not toys for cheap propaganda,” Otedola stated.
The dispute started after Otedola spoke about the ongoing clash between Dangote Refinery and the Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria. He had advised marketers to embrace reforms and adapt to changes. Sani, however, responded by accusing Otedola of being involved in subsidy fraud.
For years, Otedola has argued that Nigeria lost about ₦2 trillion to subsidy fraud during the Goodluck Jonathan administration between 2009 and 2015. He has also called on the government to release full reports on subsidy claims to promote transparency.
In his reply, Femi Otedola described Sani’s accusations as “false, baseless, and shameless.” He insisted they were an attempt to rewrite history and damage his name. He also pointed to his new memoir, Making It Big, which outlines his version of events and defends his reputation.
“I have nothing to hide. I have always stood for truth and accountability, and I will not allow lies to become part of history,” Otedola said.
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