By Lizzy Chirkpi
A United States-based political advisory and lobbying firm, Von Batten-Montague-York, has announced that former presidential spokesman Laolu Akande has been formally served with court documents in a federal defamation lawsuit filed against him.
The firm disclosed this in a statement on Monday, identifying Akande, also known as Pastor Olaolu Akande, as the operator of Empowered Newswire.
According to the firm, its process server successfully delivered a federal court summons and complaint to Akande, alongside ongoing legal proceedings involving another defendant, Ademola Bello.
It said the service of the documents had given both defendants the opportunity to engage legal representatives and respond to the allegations before the court.
“We have been informed that @akandeoj (also known as Pastor Olaolu Akande), who does business as Empowered Newswire, has finally been served with a federal court summons and complaint by our process server.
“The clock is now ticking for Mr Ademola Bello and Pastor Akande to respond to the allegations of defamation against them in federal court. Both defendants now have an opportunity to retain legal counsel and defend their statements,” the firm stated.
In a separate post on its X account, Von Batten-Montague-York warned that either defendant could face further legal consequences if they failed to respond within the timeframe stipulated by federal law.
The firm said it intended to seek an entry of default and, where legally justified, a default judgment against any defendant who failed to respond.
“Should either defendant fail to respond within the time prescribed by federal law, we intend to seek entry of default and, where appropriate, a default judgment against them,” the statement read.
It further said it would pursue all available legal remedies to enforce any monetary judgment eventually awarded by the court.
Such measures, according to the firm, could include asset seizure and wage garnishment to recover damages.
“If a monetary judgment is entered, we intend to pursue all lawful enforcement remedies, including asset seizure, wage garnishment, and other appropriate collection measures, to ensure that Dr. Von Batten is made whole,” it added.
The allegations, however, remain subject to determination by the court, with both defendants entitled to present their defence.
Akande is a journalist, author and former Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to ex-President Muhammadu Buhari.
He served as part of Buhari’s media team during the administration’s two terms in office, from 2015 to 2023.
Before his appointment, Akande worked as a journalist covering Nigerian politics and governance. He was also a United States-based correspondent for several Nigerian media organisations and worked with the Voice of America (VOA), reporting on Nigerian and African affairs.