Aisha Buhari can't sue me till 2018 - Fayose

 Governor Ayodele Fayose has told Mrs. Aisha Buhari, to wait until the end of his tenure to sue him for defamation of character – The Ekiti state governor had accused the president’s wife of been involved in the Halliburton scandal – Fayose said according to the constitution he remains immune from legal attacks as a governor  Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti state, has advised the wife of the president, Mrs. Aisha Buhari, to wait until the end of his tenure on October 16, 2018, to sue him for defamation of character, The Nation reports. He said by virtue of Section 308 of the constitution, he remained immune from legal attacks until the end of his tenure. The counsel to the president’s wife, Mary Ekpere & Co had written a letter dated June 22, 2016, to Fayose, demanding a retraction of the governor’s statement that the president’s wife was involved in the Halliburton scandal, and threatening legal action if the retraction was not made within five days. 

 However Fayose in a letter by his counsel, Mike Ozekhome, a copy of which was made available to reporters in Ado Ekiti on Wednesday, July 13, said the statement he made regarding the alleged involvement of Mrs. Buhari in the Halliburton scandal was “correct and justified in law, having regards to a court judgment convicting one William Jefferson of bribery in the case.” The letter reads; “Our client has referred to us your letter dated 22nd June, 2016, on alleged defamation of the character of your client , Her Excellency, Mrs. Aisha Buhari, the wife of President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, with firm instructions to reply to and reject same in its entirety. “Our client states and reaffirms categorically that the statement he made as regards the involvement of Mrs. Aisha Buhari, the wife of President Buhari, in the Halliburton scandal, is correct and justified in law; having regards to a court judgement convicting one Mr. William Jefferson for bribery in the Halliburton case. 

“Therein, the name of the President’s wife featured conspicuously. At page 22 of the said judgment delivered by the United States District Court, Eastern District of Virginia, Alexandria Division, USA, in criminal No 1: 07CR209, the said Mr. William Jefferson was sentenced at 9:00am on November 13, 2009, by Mark D, Lytle. Your client, Mrs. Aisha Buhari was specifically mentioned in the judgment.” Premium Times is reporting that no Aisha Buhari was named in the Halliburton bribery scandal and that Fayose was merely confusing the Williams Jefferson bribery case with the Halliburton bribery scandal. 

 Nigerians react Former top officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) familiar with the Williams Jefferson bribery case have also said the Aisha Buhari mentioned in the matter was different from the one referred to in the case. In another development, the United States government has replied Fayose declaring that it has no records of crimes against Aisha, the wife of President Muhammadu Buhari. The country also said the president’s wife is not wanted in the US.