Suspended Managing Director of the Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA), Hadiza Bala Usman has dismissed a report by Sahara Reporters alleging unapproved N831 million hotel expenditure by her administration. She described the publication as fake news without foundation.

Ms Bala Usman said in a statement personally signed by her and issued on Friday: “Now, it must be obvious to all Nigerians of good conscience that Sahara Reporters is sworn to a ceaseless campaign of calumny against my person.

“Over the past two weeks, the publication has continued to spread false and rehashed stories directed at maligning my personality and casting aspersions on my reputation and service to the nation. This, they do in total disregard of all rebuttals, which would have been needless but for the need to maintain my personal integrity and that of my family.

“On Thursday May 20, 2021, Sahara Reporters published a story with the headline: “Budget report indicts ex-NPA boss, Usman shows unapproved N831million spent on hotels in 2016, 2017.” This story shows the relentless war that the publication is waging against my personality for reasons best known to them.

“The fact is that the NPA has its audited financial statements for the years 2016, 2017 and 2018. These statements have the authentic figures of the Authority’s expenditure over those years.

“However, rather than seek the authentic statements, Sahara Reporters have depended on snapshots of documents that are unauthenticated, apparently because they fit the already concocted and devious narratives that they love to sell to the public.

“Earlier in the day on Thursday, Sahara Reporters Television released the video of a building with the title, “Alleged Zaria edifice built by Hadiza Bala Usman while in office as MD of Nigerian Ports Authority.”

“Again, this story is total falsehood, and a pathetic reflection of what Sahara Reporters has become.

“I challenge the publication to produce any document that links me with this building.

More importantly, it is time to serve notice on Sahara Reporters and its cohorts to desist from publishing unfounded stories targeted at tarnishing my image.

“I have chosen to maintain a calm mien to this consistent falsehood, conscious of the demand of accountability, which national service places on me.

“However, there is always a limit to which one can endure this needless perpetuation of falsehood.

“I will take legal action against Sahara Reporters if it continues in this manner.”

Update news