By Sani Idris

The Arewa Youth Assembly, alongside other Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), have on Friday refuted a report by Sahara Reporters on DCP Simon Lough’s retirement, describing it as an
orchestrated campaign of calumny.

aaghis was contained in a statement issued to newsmen signed by the
Speaker of Arewa Youth Assembly, Mallam MD Salihu, Musa Lawal of the Civil Society Group for the Defence of Human Rights, Justice and Equity, and Adamu Garba of Arewa Youth Federation.

Other signatories to the statement were Yahaya Salisu of the
Northern Youth Council, Zainab Baba of Northern women Assembly of Nigeria, Ibrahim Yakubu Tete of
Coalition of Concern Nigeria Student and Prince Denesi Amos Momoh of the Guardians for Democracy and Development Initiative.

The group explained that one Mr Joseph Benjamin the MD/CEO of Citedal who orchestrated the false report about DCP Lough have been hanging in between anger and confusion which ultimately culminated into his frustration because Lough was prosecuting him over corrupt case.

“We felt even more embarrassed, insulted and violated by the way and manner the issue of Lough retirement was trivialized and reported out of context in Sahara Reporters.

“It is a deliberate misrepresentation of the true picture and a desperate falsification of verifiable facts
Mr Joseph Benjamin appears to be labouring under the burden of distress because of his corrupt case.

“His foul language against DCP Lough is an evidence of poor breeding. Mr Joseph Benjamin is found of making headline for a wrong reason with his industry of lies, It is a well known fact that when you fight corruption, it will fight back,”They said.

The group added that Benjamin’s petition to the IGP and PSC lacked substance, thereby misleading sahara reporter to unwittingly market half-truth, cover up and distorted facts about DCP Lough.

“Mr Joseph Benjamin have succeeded in injuring his reputatio and integrity as a result of his criminal case. This painful hangover of criminal case against him, made him roll out his venom against DCP Lough.

“Mr Benjamin made dishonest conclusion in his letter that is made up largely of rumors, hearsay, presumptuous conjectures and outright falsehood.

“After our studied decision, we found out that he has polluted the high mind discourse. Our attention was drawn to the july 23, 2023 of another flurry of provocative, mischievous and fraudulent media publica disingenuously designed to smear the good name of DCP Lough who is a forthright and a courageous police officer.

“DCP Lough’s conduct conveys distinction, his professional expertise stand him out, while his competence, capacity and character is not in doubt,” the group said.

Speaking further, the group said Mr Joseph Benjamin has broken all rules of decency in achieving whatever his objectives against DCP Lough was, where he decided to take his case to the court of the media, with cheap gossip and pedestrian speculation.

“Benjamin said DCP Lough was enlisted in the Police Force on 8th of January 1987 and was suppose to retire 8th of Jan 2022 after 35 years, in his letter to IGP and PSC he said DCP Lough has over stayed by 18 months,”they said.

They therefore, noted that Benjamin has a criminal case, where he was been represented by a SAN and all along refused to show up in the court.

“Is it possible that this obvious personal attack is rooted in something beyond DCP Lough’s alleged unprofessional acts in police service,”they wondered.

They therefore, in order to avoid erosion for the on going issues, urge all investigative journalists to make their fact findings at the FCT High Court where Joseph Benjamin is been prosecuted.

“His charge no is FCT/HC/CR/216/2016,IGP VS Joseph Benjamin

“Just because of Joseph Benjamin prosecution for the crime he committed, DCP Lough has become a victim of the flourishing industry of lies, having succeeded in promoting fake news.

” We therefore want to correct him, debunk his claims that are completely baseless, as he is only out for personal vendetta against DCP Lough,”they said.

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