My voice on “Tinubu tape” distorted, Adams says, but video remains in circulation
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Gani Adams has claimed his voice was distorted on the video tape of his allegations against fellow Yoruba nationalist Sunday Igboho (Sunday Adeyemo), President Bola Tinubu, and Lagos Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s Chief of Staff Tayo Ayinde.
Adams made the claim after lawyers for Igboho and Ayinde separately threatened him with legal action unless he retracts his statement on the tape, which includes that Tinubu allegedly gave N50 million cash to Ayinde to pass to Igboho to kill him (Adams).
But Adams confirmed the tape contains his discussion with a friend in the United States in 2021 about events at the time. And he did not deny saying Igboho was contracted by Tinubu through Ayinde to assassinate him (Adams).
The threat of legal action was triggered by the content of a press statement issued by Sunday Igboho, titled: “I did not take part in killing Chief Bola Ige…”
It also arose from the publication of a viral voice note in which Adams is allegedly heard saying in Yoruba language: “So, be careful associating with Igboho. Just last night, he was with Tayo Ayinde, the Lagos State Governor’s Chief of Staff. He was heavily paid. You know that I have an extensive intelligence network as Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland.
“Until about 2:45 am, he was with Tayo Ayinde, the Lagos State Governor’s Chief of Staff, who Tinubu also uses in Lagos to coordinate the execution of his evil machinations. He has been doing work of that nature for Tinubu since his days in the SSS [State Security Service also called Department of State Service, DSS].
“He resigned from the SSS, Ibadan to concentrate fully on such work for Tinubu, who compensated him with the office of Chief of Staff to the Lagos State Governor.
“It was at his hotel somewhere in Ikeja, Lagos, that Igboho visited him to collect money for logistics to confront me. Igboho left lbadan at about midnight to attend this meeting which ended at about 2:45am.
“Tayo Ayinde gave N45m in cash to Igboho for the operation, thus shortchanging Igboho to the tune of N5m out of the N50m purse provided by Tinubu. The discovery of this has brewed disenchantment in their midst.”
Adams explains reasons for his silence
A statement issued on Tuesday by Adam’s Media Assistant Kehinde Aderemi said the voice note was distorted.
In the statement titled, “Don’t take my silence for cowardice, Gani Adams speaks on alleged defamation of character”, he said his reaction became necessary as it has become evident “that Igboho and Ayinde were not ready to toe the line of peace as initiated by the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi.”
Adams also wrote a rejoinder through his lawyers, Oluwole Kehinde and Rosemary Thompson, to the legal threat letter written by the lawyers of Igboho and Ayinde.
The rejoinder reads in part: “Firstly, our client [Adams] denies the content and inferences drawn by you in your letter under reference regarding the alleged audio clip you attributed to our client.
“As stated in your letter, the content of the alleged video clip, which is a concocted, distorted, and disjointed part of a private conversation between our client and another person in 2021, was published and widely circulated by one Chief Sunday Adeyemo (Alias ‘Sunday Ighoho’) and not our client.”
“Furthermore, it is obvious from the alleged defamatory remarks that our client mentioned that it was a ‘rumoured and unconfirmed information that he found difficult to believe’ and could not be shared publicly.
“Thus, there is no element of malice on the part of our client pertaining to the alleged statement attributed to him in the said video clip.
“The reason for my silence in the midst of the various legal and media infractions by Igboho and Ayinde, was not because I am a coward, but because of the initial interventions of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, other prominent Obas and several other important personalities in Yorubaland.
“But with the ongoing lies and aspersions against my person, I think it is time for me to come out open and set the record straight.
“Though my legal team has done what was required of them, I need to state clearly that the audio clip generating the squabbles was a distorted and disjointed content of a private conversation which held way back in 2021 with a US-based younger brother of a friend.
“The conversation was initiated by the young man who claimed he wanted a reconciliation between myself, Igboho and some other people.
“It was while responding on reasons for reconciliation at the time that he mentioned the names of the two people.”
Adams noted that in the circulating audio, he said it repeatedly that though it was very difficult to believe, there was an unconfirmed rumour allegedly linking Igboho to the murder of the late Minister of Justice, Bola Ige.
“My statement was not done in bad faith and it was purely a private conversation.
“However, on the issue of my brother, Tayo Ayinde, let me make it clear here that I repeatedly said that whatever was said was a rumour that couldn’t be substantiated or made public.”
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Related articles:
Sunday Igboho, Sanwo-Olu’s chief of staff threaten to sue Gani Adams over assassination allegation
Sunday Igboho returns to battle against killer herders in South West
Sunday Igboho denies turning into a cat to beat Buhari’s assassins
ECOWAS court orders Benin Republic to pay Sunday Igboho 20 million CFA over unlawful detention
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