Onitsha Main Market: Bizman Demands Apology, N5bn Compensation For Malicious Damage


Chief Robinson Ezebunanwa, a caretaker chairman in charge of Zone 3 in Main Market, Onitsha has demanded an unreserved apology and N5 million as compensation from some traders who sponsored malicious publication against his person.

Ezebunanwa who wrote through his lawyer Barr DCN Peter Ikebuaso of PC Ikebuaso Chambers also demanded that the defamatory article entitled "Onitsha Traders Reject Reappointment Of Ezebunanwa" be retracted within 72 hours of receipt of the notice.

The Lawyer said that the allegation that Ezebunanwa did not carry the majority of the traders along in the discharge of his duties, that he had overstayed and should be avoided by any decent administration was not only ill informed and misleading.

According to the notice, that about June 28, 2022, you in concert/collusion with Mr. Goodluck Offor, Mrs. Monica Maduka and others under the aegis of Zone 3 stakeholders falsely represented in the social media and media outlet held a protest kicking against the proposed reappointment of our client as a Caretaker Chairman of Zone
3, Main Market, Onitsha, Anambra State.

"You circulated the said false articles and misinformation to the effect that our client "is part of the problems of the market" and/or "one of the problems of our market" amongst others.

"It is not in doubt that your false narratives, write-ups are without details and meant to disparage, bamboozle the public and jeopardize the image, integrity and
character of our client.

"The campaign of calumny orchestrated by you in conjunction with saboteurs of the Soludo Administration whose stock in trade is to feed fat on the government revenue infantile and unsubstantiated.

"Impeccable records show that our client has piloted the affairs of the zone with equity and respect for one another and in service to the State Government.

"Consequently, we demand that you retract the said libelous articles posted and/or published in media outfits, social media and platforms within 72 hours of your receipt of this letter.

"Secondly, you are to publish with equal force apologies to our client in the said platforms wherein you published every of your libelous publications.

"You are to pay damages in the sum of N5 million jointly and severally to the aforestated law firm in favour of our client.

"In the event of your failure to comply, we shall resort to the law courts to ventilate our client's legal rights without further recourse to you," it stated.