Former Attorney-General and Justice Minister, Michael Kaase Aondoakaa (SAN), has retracted the libelous publication he made against the alleged Minister of Information and Communications, Prof. Dora Akunyili, concerning a memo she presented at one of the meetings of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) in which she urged her colleagues to make Dr. Goodluck Jonathan the Acting President.

Aondoakaa said in a letter he signed entitled: “Re-retracted libelous publication” that the statement he made was meant for good and not to spite Prof. Akunyili or to generate any quarrel.

He said: “While much of the quoted words in your letter can rightly be ascribed to me, the import of the last sentence to the effect that “…let her go and confront herself with what happened in NAFDAC,..” was meant to be in the positive but was wrongly presented in the negative.

“The correct import of the above quoted words is that the Hon. Minister has earned a reputation for herself while at NAFDAC and needs not seek to do more by embarking on the present course of action to the detriment of a resolution already adopted unanimously by members of the FEC.”

Furthermore, he said “I wish to draw your attention to the matter conveyed to me by your letter dated 8th February, 2010,…accept the assurances of my highest regards and consideration.”

Prof. Akunyili had earlier threatened to sue the Aondoakaa if he did not recant the statement he made against her which was published by a national newspaper on Monday.

Meanwhile, Aondoakaa’s successor, Prince Adetokunbo Kayode (SAN) has formally assumed office with a promise to always offer quality advice to the Federal Government.

He also called for a maximum co-operation from members of staff of the ministry. Aondoakaa, who has been posted to the Special Duties Ministry, seized the opportunity to ask for the harmonisation of the salaries of the staff. At the handing over ceremony, there was no formal exchange of documents. Aondoakaa assured the new minister that the handing over of some documents would be done when he returns from the special assignment he is undertaking today.

He said during the brief ceremony: “The honourable minister is somebody I respect because we think alike and I cannot remember a day at FEC meeting where he raised a finger against me. I can tell you that nothing has changed as there must be continuity in the work of the ministry.”.

While asking for salary harmonisation of the staff of the ministry alongside those of the magistrates at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Aondoakaa said that the office of the Head of Service and the Salary and Wages Commission had responded positively but the ministry is yet to act and would want his successor to see to the workers’ welfare.

Kayode said that Aondoakaa had tried his best in addressing various challenges that confronted the government and that he can only look into the areas of improvement.

He said that there is continuity in the work of the ministry and that his posting was like a journey to a familiar terrain and urged for rededication of staff to duty in order that justice might be done to the citizens.


Daniel Okpole
Friday, 12 February 2010
COURTESY: COMPASS NEWS