BEVERLY HILLS, May 10, (THEWILL) – DAAR Communications Plc, owner of Africa Independent Television (AIT), has apologised to Major Mustapha Jokolo (Rtd), a former aide de camp of President Muhammadu Buhari, over a defamatory documentary it aired.
THEWILL recalls that AIT had on January 24, in the build-up to the 2015 general election, aired a documentary entitled, ‘The Real Buhari’, in which it alleged that Jokolo cleared 53 suit cases, suspected to contain cash, at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos for Buhari in 1984 when he was Head of State.
Disturbed by the documentary, Jokolo, who is the Emir of Gwandu in Kebbi state, filed a libel suit against the broadcaster, but an out-of-court settlement was later reached which stated that AIT must retract its story and tender a public apology.
In the retraction and apology note, AIT said its intention to air the documentary was not to diminish the reputation of the Emir insisting that it holds him in high esteem.
“DAAR Communications Plc states that in airing the said documentary, it had no intention whatsoever to embarrass or diminish the high reputation of Alhaji Mustapha Jokolo whom it holds in very high esteem,” it read.
“DAAR Communications Plc hereby retracts the said documentary on the television station (AIT) titled ‘The Real Buhari’ aired on 24 January 2015 which was broadcast on its television station (AIT).
“DAAR Communications Plc hereby tenders unreserved apology to Alhaji Mustapha Haruna Jokolo for the broadcast of the said documentary on its television station (AIT).”
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