Former Borno State governor, Ali Modu Sheriff, has refuted reports alleging that he accused Vice-President Kashim Shettima of founding the terrorist group Boko Haram. Sheriff described the claim as “false, malicious, and dangerous.”
The report, which resurfaced online in recent days, quoted Sheriff as allegedly saying, “It’s not me; it’s Shettima who created Boko Haram.”
In a statement released on Saturday, the former lawmaker dismissed the story as a “complete fabrication” intended to mislead Nigerians and incite political tension.
“The said story is a complete fabrication, devoid of truth, and a deliberate attempt to mislead the public, malign the person of Senator Sheriff, and sow discord within the nation’s political landscape,” the statement read.
He maintained that he never granted any interview or made such remarks to any journalist, describing the viral report as a calculated attempt to undermine his record of promoting peace and unity.
“This false report is not only mischievous but also a dangerous piece of fake news aimed at undermining years of Senator Sheriff’s contributions to peace, national unity, and development, both in Borno State and across Nigeria,” the statement added.
He called on the public and media organisations to ignore the story, disclosing that his lawyers had been instructed to pursue legal action against those responsible.
“Senator Sheriff has instructed his legal team to take immediate steps to identify all individuals, bloggers, or media outlets responsible for the dissemination of this defamatory material,” his media office said.
“Should the false publication not be retracted and taken down forthwith, the Senator will not hesitate to seek full legal redress under the law.”
He reaffirmed his dedication to Nigeria’s peace, stability, and democratic ideals, vowing to ensure that those spreading misinformation face the consequences.
