Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule, is threatening legal action against the Vice Chancellor of the University of Mkar in Benue State, Professor Zacharys Anger Gundu, following controversial statements accusing him of aiding insecurity in the region.
In a formal letter dated July 22, 2025, and signed by senior lawyer Ahmed Raji (SAN), Governor Sule demanded a full retraction and public apology over comments made by Prof. Gundu during a national television appearance. The remarks, Sule’s legal team says, have caused “immeasurable damage” to the governor’s reputation.
While speaking on the programme, Professor Gundu accused the Nasarawa State government—both past and present—of harboring violent groups responsible for attacks in Benue. He referenced former governor Tanko Al-Makura’s administration, claiming it tried to mask the problem by labeling attackers as “international hunters” despite the state having no such grounds.
Gundu went further to implicate Governor Sule directly, alleging he is offering land and safe haven to the perpetrators of violence, specifically naming Fulani groups. “Only someone not in their right mind would claim these attackers are coming from outside the country,” he stated, claiming Sule is “giving them refuge and land.”
In response, Governor Sule has asked the VC to either provide concrete evidence for his allegations or face a lawsuit. His lawyer, Raji, said that unless Gundu publishes an unreserved apology in at least five national newspapers within seven days, the matter will be taken to court where “exemplary damages” will be sought.
“The harm done to our client’s reputation is incalculable,” the letter stated. “But he will consider the matter resolved if a public retraction and apology are issued without delay.”
The development has sparked reactions from political observers, academics, and the wider public, many of whom are watching to see if the issue escalates into a courtroom showdown.