Baba-Ahmed condemns fictitious publication by The Punch, demands retraction, apology
Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, the special adviser on political matters to Vice-President Kashim Shettima, has publicly condemned a publication by The Punch newspaper.
Baba-Ahmed, who also serves as the spokesperson for the Northern Elders Forum (NEF), expressed his dismay over a fictitious interview attributed to him by the newspaper.
On July 20, 2024, The Punch published an interview purportedly conducted by its reporter, Imoleayo Oyediyi. According to Baba-Ahmed, this interview never took place.
“I am hoping that Saturday Punch, which I otherwise hold in high esteem, will retract and apologize for publishing a fictitious interview I was supposed to have granted its reporter, Imoleayo Oyediyi today, 20-7-24,” he stated emphatically.
The elder statesman and political advisor, who is also the elder brother of Datti Baba-Ahmed, the vice-presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the February 25 election, voiced his concerns about the implications of such false reporting.
He reiterated the importance of journalistic integrity and the need for media outlets to verify the authenticity of their sources before publication.
