Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
The last is yet to be heard of the controversy trailing the planned hunger protest against the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led Federal Government, as the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Mr Peter Obi, accused of masterminding the said protest, has given Presidential Aide, Bayo Onanuga, 72 hours within which to pay N5 billion as damages as well a public apology published in four national newspapers for defamation and libel or face legal action.
The ultimatum is coming two days after Onanuga claimed in his X handle @aonanuga1956 that, “Peter Ob’s supporters are the people planning mayhem in Nigeria and that Obi should be held responsible for anarchy.”
Obi who wrote through his counsel, Chief Alex Ejesieme, SAN of the MADIBA Chambers, denied any links with the said protest, saying the Presidency is desperately looking for an opportunity to arrest him.
The former Anambra State Governor, claimed that the allegation which was widely circulated in the social and mainstream media “maligned his hard-earned reputation as a man who indulges in violence when all his antecedents are vivid that he abhors violence even in the face of extreme provocation.”
He said: “It’s our client’s conviction that the publication was a calculated plot to demean, ridicule, humiliate and embarrass him by the estimation of every right thinking member of the society.”
According to the letter, the allegation may have achieved its insipid motive as well-wishers from all around the globe have inundated Obi to register their shock.
“His appellation as ‘Okwute’ (the Rock) notwithstanding, the demeaning and scandalous publication has also caused a serious emotional injury to our client given his decades of stellar stewardship in private and public life.
“Consequently, we have our clients mandate to demand that you retract the statement made in the publication and tender an unreserved apology to him within 72 hours of the receipt of this letter in not less than 4 National Dailies to wit: Vanguard, THISDAY, Punch and the Cable, including your verified X“@aonanuga1956.
“Our client is also making an unequivocal demand for the monetary damage of N5b for the embarrassment your defamatory publication has caused him and his family.”
“In the event of your failure to meet the demands set out above, our client shall be constrained to approach a Court of Competent jurisdiction and take legal action against you for defamation and libel.”
Recall that Professor Pat Utomi also fingered by Onanuga as part of the masterminds of the said protest, had also threatened a libel suit against the Presidential Aide.
Ohanaeze Ndigbo has equally lambasted Onanuga for making unfounded allegations and unguarded remarks against Obi and Ndigbo, urging the President to call his Aide to order.
