Former Vice-President and the PDP presidential candidate in the 2019 general election, Atiku Abubakar, has filed a N2. 5bn suit against President Muha
Former Vice-President and the PDP presidential candidate in the 2019 general election, Atiku Abubakar, has filed a N2. 5bn suit against President Muhammadu Buhari’s Special Assistant on Social Media, Lauretta Onochie, over her alleged libelous tweet via her twitter handle on May 7, 2019.
The post allegedly suggested that Atiku was on the watch list of security operatives in the United Arab Emirates and had travelled to shop for terrorists in the Middle East. Atiku, filed the suit on June 26, through his lawyer, Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN).
By the suit, the claimant wants a declaration that the twitter publication made by the Defendant through the defendant’s twitter handle, page at (https://twitter.com/Laurestar?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor)which is linked to, and belongs to the Defendant, circulated as electronic message via twitter and also published globally online on the social and other print media, wherein she stated as follows: “Atiku on UAE watchlist- Security sources Security operatives in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are keeping a close tab on a former Nigerian Vice Pres Atiku Abubakar who has been in the Middle East nation for several weeks now What is he doing there? Me: Shopping for Terrorists?”), concerning and touching on the person of the Claimant, are utterly false, baseless, unfounded and defamatory of the Claimant, and injurious to his reputation, in his personal credit and character as a respected Elder Statesman, faithful and responsible husband, good and caring father, and in his official capacities as politician, holder of the National honour of Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger and Former Vice President, of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“A declaration that the facebook publication made via the defendant’s facebook page at (https//www.facebook.com/laurestar1 with facebook name ‘Lauretta Onochie) also published globally online on the social and other print and electronic media quoted on 20th May, 2019, which is linked to, and belongs to the Defendant, stating as follows: “EVIL SHALL NO LONGER HAVE A VOICE OR SAY, ANYWHERE IN NIGERIA. Good morning Family and Friends. This is in no way responding to the depressed Alhaji Atiku Abubakar whose aides are constantly cooking up disgrace for him, for the sake of their stomachs, instead of giving him his pills. This is to reassure my PERSONAL PEOPLE who are concerned and have emailed, texted or called to know if I’m fine that truly, I had the most hilarious day yesterday and that I am very fine. I continue to laugh at the clowns who do not know what they are walking into. We are entering into the most crucial time at the Election Tribunal where the mandate freely given to our beloved President by Nigerians is being challenged and I’m their nightmare. In their thinking, “Let’s distract Lauretta Onochie. We can’t afford to have her focused on her job”. Buhahahahahaha! I can’t be distracted. Truly I can’t for very simple reasons. I have a great family that thinks the world of me. My friends are fiercely loyal and committed because they know me. 34 million Buharists across world are on standby. Always. I have the witness of a clear conscience. I love Nigeria and her wellbeing is my focus. Its all good people. At the end of it all, EVIL SHALL NO LONGER HAVE A VOICE NOR SAY, ANYWHERE IN NIGERIA. Thank you my people and May God Bless You All. God bless Nigeria. Lauretta Onochie @Laurestar”), –
concerning and touching on the person of the Claimant, are false, baseless, unfounded and defamatory of the Claimant, and injurious to his reputation, in his personal credit and character as a respected Elder Statesman, faithful and responsible husband, good and caring father, and in his official capacities as a politician and the holder of the National honour of Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger and Former Vice President, of the federal Republic of Nigeria.
“An order of court compelling the Defendant to make a retraction of, and apology to, the Claimant, for the said offensive twitter and facebook publications on the same platforms, also to be published in three national newspapers with wide circulation within the country and also broadcast on AIT, Channels and NTA television stations, consequent upon the untold embarrassment, public ridicule, odium, obloquy, derision, marital disharmony, mental agony and psychological trauma which the Defendant’s said defamatory twitter and facebook publications have caused the Claimant.
“An order of this Honourable court compelling the Defendant to write to the Claimant, a letter of unreserved apology for the said offensive twitter and facebook publications which were widely circulated vide the Defendant’s twitter/facebook handles and also published globally online on the social and other print media, consequent upon the embarrassment, ridicule, derision, marital disharmony, mental agony and psychological trauma which the Defendant’s said defamatory twitter and facebook publications have caused the Claimant.
“An order of perpetual injunction restraining the Defendant, whether by herself, her servants, agents, privies, assigns, friends and /or representatives, or otherwise howsoever, from further, twittering, posting messages on her facebook page, and/or publishing the above stated offensive and libelous material or any other form of defamatory statements against the person of the Claimant to members of the general public.
“An order of perpetual injunction restraining the Defendant, whether by herself, her agents, servants, employees, privies, assigns, friends, or personal representatives, or otherwise howsoever from further publishing, twitting, or posting on her facebook pages any further offensive libelous statements or against the Claimant and from further publishing the said words complained of, or similar words, or words to the like effect.
“An order of perpetual injunction directing the Defendant to pay to the Claimant, the sum of N2,500,000,000,000.00 (Two Billion, Five Hundred Million Naira) only, representing general, aggravated, punitive and exemplary damages over the untold embarrassment, derision, public ridicule, odium, obloquy, marital disharmony, mental agony and psychological trauma which the Defendant’s publications have caused the Claimant.
