A publication circulating online had quoted Sheriff as
saying, “It’s not me; it’s Shettima who created Boko Haram.”

The report was first published
in August 2016.

But in a statement issued on Saturday, Sheriff dismissed the
report as a “complete fabrication” aimed at misleading the public and stirring
political discord.

“The said story is a complete fabrication, devoid of truth,
and a deliberate attempt to mislead the public, malign the person of Senator
Sheriff, and sow discord within the nation’s political landscape,” the
statement reads.

Sheriff said he never granted any interview or spoke to any
journalist on the matter, adding that the falsehood was designed to undermine
his long-standing commitment to peace and national unity.

“This false report is not only mischievous but also a
dangerous piece of fake news aimed at undermining years of Senator Sheriff’s
contributions to peace, national unity, and development, both in Borno State
and across Nigeria,” the statement added.

The former governor urged members of the public and the
media to disregard the publication, noting that he had directed his legal team
to identify and pursue those behind the story.

“Senator Sheriff has instructed his legal team to take
immediate steps to identify all individuals, bloggers, or media outlets
responsible for the dissemination of this defamatory material,” his media
office said.

“Should the false publication not be retracted and taken
down forthwith, the Senator will not hesitate to seek full legal redress under
the law.”

Sheriff reaffirmed his commitment to Nigeria’s security,
stability, and democratic values and vowed to ensure that the spread of
misinformation does not go unpunished.