Prominent businessman and philanthropist, Daniel Kanu, has defended his role during the era of former military ruler, Gen. Sani Abacha, while denying claims that he was ever imprisoned, describing such allegations as defamatory.
In a press statement issued on Thursday, Kanu said he had no regrets about his involvement in Abacha-era initiatives, including Vision 2010, noting that his actions at the time were motivated by a belief in youth empowerment and national development.
“I make no apologies,” he said, adding that his past political involvement should not be “retroactively weaponised through fabricated allegations.”
Kanu’s response followed a social media post by filmmaker Ugezu J. Ugezu, which reportedly portrayed him as a former political loyalist whose fortunes declined after the Abacha administration and alleged that he was later arrested, prosecuted and imprisoned over financial crimes.
Denying the claims, Kanu described them as “entirely false and baseless,” insisting that he has never been arrested, charged, tried or convicted of any criminal offence in Nigeria or elsewhere, and has never served a prison sentence.
While acknowledging that the filmmaker may have intended to caution young Nigerians against political sycophancy, Kanu maintained that such intent does not justify the spread of misinformation or reputational harm.
He described the use of his name in that context as “inappropriate” and “misleading.”
Kanu also recalled his role in March 1998 when he mobilised thousands of youths under the “Youths Earnestly Ask for Abacha ‘98” (YEAA) movement, which organised a major political rally urging the late military ruler to transition to civilian rule.
He noted that although critics had labelled him a supporter of military rule, he believed at the time that the Vision 2010 agenda provided opportunities for youth-focused development.
The businessman disclosed that he has filed a formal petition with the Inspector-General of Police, accusing Ugezu of criminal defamation, cyberbullying and cyberstalking.
According to him, the authorities have acknowledged receipt of the petition and commenced investigations into the matter.
He added that he is prepared to pursue both civil and criminal actions against those involved in circulating the claims, stating that the case goes beyond personal redress to addressing the broader issue of misinformation on digital platforms.
Kanu further highlighted his business and philanthropic activities, describing himself as an entrepreneur with investments in Nigeria and abroad, with a focus on youth empowerment, community development and support for vulnerable groups.
He urged the public to disregard the allegations and called on bloggers and social media users to verify information before publication.
“The digital space must not become a haven for reckless speech,” he said, reaffirming his commitment to defend his reputation through legal means.