We’ll sue Jonathan over assassination claims – MEND

Jonathan made the claim while denying being a sponsor of militant group, Niger Delta Avengers (NDA).

The former president also extended the accusation to the leaders of MEND, Henry and Charles Okah who are being tried for terrorism in Nigeria and South Africa.

MEND made the threat via a statement released by spokesman, Jomo Gbomo on Tuesday, August 9, 2016.

The statement reads in part:

“The attention of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) has been drawn to a statement issued by one Ikechukwu Eze, on behalf of former President Goodluck Jonathan purporting to dissociate the former President from the allegation leveled against him by the Reformed Niger Delta Avengers (RNDA) that, the former president is the Grand Patron of the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA).

“With all due respect, the entire statement was deeply provocative and embarrassingly misconceived as it woefully failed to address the core issue of whether or not the former president is indeed the grand patron of the NDA.

“Any follower of events in Nigeria and the Niger Delta who was privileged to read the statement released by Mr. Jonathan, would immediately observe that the former President had a score to settle with the Okah brothers as well as with MEND.

“A substantial portion of Mr. Jonathan’s statement unfortunately dwelt on judicial matters, which are pending in various courts in Nigeria and South Africa.

“The former president’s statement is therefore, most highly contemptuous, injurious to the credit of MEND and the Okah brothers; and, above all, prejudicial to the eventual outcome of the ongoing trials in South African and Nigerian courts, respectively.

“Consequently, both brothers shall, on account of the former President’s prejudicial statement, institute legal action against him in South Africa and Nigeria within 60 days, commencing from today, August 9, 2016.

“Accordingly, they have briefed their respective Solicitors to formally engage the former president in litigation.”

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MEND also accused Jonathan of sponsoring militant group, Niger Delta Avengers to destabilize President Muhammadu Buhari’s government.

The accusation was first levelled against Jonathan by the Reformed Niger Delta Avengers (RNDA), a supposed splinter group of NDA.