Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
Political Economist, and chieftain of the Labour Party, Professor Pat Utomi, has vowed to file a N500 billion suit against the Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to President Bola Tinubu, Bayo Onanuga, for linking him with the planned anti-Tinubu nationwide protest.
Recall that Onanuga had accused Utomi, the 2023 presidential candidate of Labour Party, Mr Peter Obi; his supporters, as well as members of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, of masterminding the planned protest.
There has also been speculations of nationwide protests against hunger, naira devaluation and economic hardship in the country.
Professor Utomi in a statement he personally signed, challenged Onanuga to provide proof that he (Utomi), is behind the purported protests.
Utomi vowed that Onanuga would meet him in court should the Presidential Aide fail to provide sophisticated evidence to back up his allegation against him.
The statement read: “My attention has been drawn to a statement by Mr. Bayo Onauga, a spokesman for the presidency alleging that I have been a key player in demonstrations viewed as insurrection.
“Let me state first and foremost that I have no problem with protests. They are legitimate sources of feedback in a democracy. I have participated in several during military rule alongside some of those now in government. My reaction to Onanuga’s statement has therefore nothing to do with the legitimacy of the demonstrations but with the deliberate and outright falsehood of the statement.
“First, I have been living in the United States for several months now and was actually unaware of threats of demonstrations so I could not have been part of something I did not know was in the works.
“As a student of the State in post-Colonial Africa. I am horrified that agents of the State can fabricate deliberate falsehood.
“As I know phones are bugged there should at least be evidence of some contact between me and these ostensible demonstration planners. They do not even need to produce the conversation to show evidence but just a thread of contacts.
“If no evidence of Mr. Onanuga’s false assertion is shown I will assume it reasonable that the object is to water the ground for false treasonable felony charges that can result in the claim of one’s life. I intend to therefore proceed to the international criminal and other human rights courts if a reasonable explanation is not forth coming.
“I will also have no choice but to institute a claim of N500 Billon for of fake news, hate speech and intent to procure State murder of an innocent citizen. If judicial capture makes justice problematic in Nigeria I expect that I can trust extra-national institutions and global human solidarity.
“As one who survived two assassination attempts under Abacha of which there is public court records when some of those now in power were my colleague freedom advocates I am clear they know the consequence of their plotting.
“I have in a reaction on X already indicated that I meant to ignore the false assertion but I have been advised of a more sinister motive of State terror that should not be allowed to go unchallenged. In the plan apparently being instigated by Mr. Onanuga.”
