₦airaland Forum

Chief Obinna Iyiegbu, popularly known as Obi Cubana, has slammed a whopping N1 billion law suit against publishers of Lagos based newspapers “PM Express” at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) over publication of defamatory information against him.

Obi Cubana in the suit dated and filed on April 27, 2022 by his lawyer, Mr. Afam Osigwe (SAN), is also seeking an order of perpetual injunction, restraining the defendants either by themselves, agents, third party, media outfits etc from publishing, advertising, promoting, distributing, circulating and serializing the news article, which is the subject matter of the suit on the internet, social media, Facebook and other social platforms, containing allegations and insinuations that he is involved in drug trafficking.

In the suit marked: CV/1367/2022, Chief Iyiegbu stated that he had suffered severe losses since the defendants, in their publication of April 26, 2022 presented him as a drug baron whose bank accounts have been frozen by the orders of a Federal High Court in Lagos.

Defendants in the suit are David Odey, Arinze Alinnor, Funsho Arogundade, Cyriacus Izulekwe and Taiwo Adelu, carrying on business in the name and style of DAFCT Communications.

In the statement of claim, Chief Iyiegbu accused the defendants of ‘’maliciously’’ using his photography in publishing a story in which the entire story as well as reported court order has absolutely nothing to do with him.

According to the claimant, the defendants had on April 26, 2022 published on their website: www.pmexpressng.com a story with headline ‘’Court Orders Banks to Freeze Suspected Drug Barons’ Accounts’’ with his picture used as that of one of the two suspected drug barons, Basil Okafor Onochie and Okwuchukwu Edwin Izuxhukwu, whose accounts were reportedly ordered frozen by Justice Tijjani Ringim in the suit filed by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

In supporting his suit of malice against the defendants he stated that he is a very well-known figure, whose name and image (photo) cannot be mistaken for either Basil Okafor Onochie or Okwuchukwu Edwin Izuchukwu, the suspected drug barons whose accounts were ordered to be frozen by the court.

Chief Iyiebu submitted that inherent in the action of the defedants are the allegations and insinuations that he is a drug baron, whose accounts have been frozen by the court and that he is involved with or has committed a criminal act.

According to him, “Defendants’ publication made using claimant’s picture was calculated to injure claimant’s reputation, by exposing him to hatred, contempt, ridicule.’’

He added that the defendants’ action was aimed at tarnishing his hard-earned reputation, built over the years so as to drive internet traffic to their website and social media platforms, gain public relevance and do maximum incalculable damage to claimant’s reputation, businesses, vocation and standing in the society.

While stating that the defendants by their weighty publications cast grave aspersion on his honour, reputation and integrity, Chief Iyiebu submitted that following the publication many persons, businesses, friends, associates, acquaintances as well as community members have shunned him and his company.

The publication, he added, exposed him to hatred, contempt, ridicule and injury in his position, profession, endeavours and businesses.

The defendants, he further stated, ‘’have by their publications shown they are engaged in an intentional smear campaign through defamatory publications.”

He argued that in an increasingly networked world online publication that invariably pass through the hands of countless intermediaries who distribute, host and index the billions of web-pages, e-mails and social media posts that make up the internet, “the defendants will not desist from the continuing hosting and publication of the complained words unless they are restrained by the court.’’

Cubana therefore, prayed the court to make an order directing defendants, jointly and severally to pay him the sum of N1 billion as general damages for defamation of character, as well as damage to businesses, professional and financial credit.

He also prayed the court to make an order that interest in the above sum be calculated at the rate of 10 per cent from the date of judgment until the final liquidation of the judgment sum.

While he also prayed for an order directing the defendants to carry out a global take-down or removal of the alleged defamatory content against the claimant on the internet, social media, Facebook etc, he urged that defendants tender a public apology in three different national newspapers.

Northern based elder statesman, Professor Ango Abdullahi has called on political parties to forget zoning of presidency to a particular region, stressing that power shift arrangement is already dead and buried.

This is just as he averred that those seeking to contest for the presidency should be allowed to do so on the merit of their competence and not where they come from, adding that such positions should be left open for standard norms of democratic processes.

Professor Abdullahi, who is the convener of the Northern elders forum (NEF) stated this at his Zaria residence while reacting to the coalition of northern groups (CNG) leadership who paid him a courtesy visit to encourage him to continue the good works of providing trusted leadership.

The elder statesman, who disclosed that over 11 presidential aspirants which cut across various political parties have visited him in Zaria for his candid advice, prayers and support, added that the election of who becomes president of Nigeria should be left open and the winner allowed to emerge regardless of where he or she comes from.

“The issue of zoning or power shift is dead and buried, candidates should be allowed to contest election on the basis of merit of their competence and not where they come from, hence the Northern elders forum is of the opinion that the presidential position should be left open for standard norms of democratic process” he said.

On the controversial consensus process that produced former senate president, Bukola Saraki from North Central and governor Bala Mohammed from North East as northern consensus candidate for the People’s Democratic Party, (PDP) he said four presidential aspirants started the consensus process on their own.

“They met former military head of state, Ibrahim Babangida and told him they had concluded consultations on possible consensus candidates but failed to arrive at one person and requested him to assist
“The aspirants insisted on us choosing from among them but we told them it was not possible, so we consulted elders from across the North West, North Central and North East before Aminu Tambuwal and Atiku Abubakar withdrew from the process.

“All elders voted for first and second choice. Saraki and Mohammed tied and both of them were asked to either pick one among themselves or do further consultation on the best among them and our recommendation was signed by me as Ango Abdullahi and not on behalf of NEF, a position I made very clear at a press conference I addressed in Minna”.

While lamenting that we have a collective failure in the country, he challenged any one to a debate on the state of the nation, stressing that what is killing us is self serving.

Earlier, the spokesperson of the CNG, Abdul-Azeez Suleiman said, “We at the CNG will continue to look up to you as a great statesman, a mentor, a guardian, a living history and an embodiment of all the exemplary qualities young Northerners should strive to achieve.

“We finally urge you sir, to remain steadfast in providing leadership for strong resistance to the antics of these political dealers desperately seeking to market the worst, unproductive, inefficient individuals with no record of credence in all their endeavours on the people as candidates from the North”

Rollsnjaguar:
Lies



If there is, then no need to ask them not to come with their phones.

udomma1005:
Shut up and Google GSM signal jammer!