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<\/p>\nFormer Anambra State Governor and Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has given Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Communication and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, a 72-hour ultimatum to apologise for his claim that Obi was behind the planned nationwide protest.<\/p>\n
Obi vowed to file a defamation libel lawsuit if Onanuga failed to apologise.<\/p>\n
Obi, through his counsel, Alex Ejesieme, demanded that the public apology be published in four national newspapers \u2013 Vanguard, THISDAY, Punch, and The Cable \u2013 as well as Onanuga\u2019s verified X handle #aonanuga1956.<\/p>\n
The demand comes after Onanuga alleged on July 20, 2024, that Obi\u2019s supporters were planning mayhem in Nigeria, linking him to anarchy.<\/p>\n
Obi\u2019s counsel described the allegation as a \u201ccalculated plot\u201d to demean and embarrass their client, causing significant harm to his reputation and emotional well-being.<\/p>\n
The counsel noted that the allegation went viral on social and mainstream media, maligning Obi\u2019s hard-earned reputation.<\/p>\n
He stressed that Obi abhors violence and has a long record of law-abiding and constructive engagement in private and public life.<\/p>\n
The Obi\u2019s counsel letter read in part, \u201cThe said statements are in every sense malicious and convey with them the potentiality of an ostracisation of our Client by well-meaning citizens of Nigeria. It should be stated without any form of equivocation that our Client is an elder statesman, a diplomat, and an unwavering democrat.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe has always tailored his affairs according to the dictates of Nigerian law. Where there has been any dissatisfaction with any process or procedure, our Client\u2019s first and only resort has been to invoke the appropriate legal mechanisms to ventilate his grievances.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs a matter of fact, our Client has severally urged his teeming supporters to abide by the rule of law and to abstain from any actions which could result in a breakdown of law and order. He refrains from associating himself with protests and has constantly persuaded Nigerians to persevere.\u201d<\/p>\n
Continuing Obi\u2019s counsel in the letter said, \u201cOur Client has expressed dissatisfaction with certain policies and has voiced the same through constructive criticism, without malice or resentment.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is our Client\u2019s conviction that the publication was a calculated plot to demean, ridicule, humiliate, and embarrass him by the estimation of every right-thinking member of society. It appears you have achieved your insipid motive, as well-wishers from all around the globe have inundated him with calls to register their shock.<\/p>\n
\u201cHis appellation as \u2018Okwute\u2019 (the Rock) notwithstanding, the demeaning and scandalous publication has also caused serious emotional injury to our Client, given his decades of stellar stewardship in private and public life.\u201d<\/p>\n
Obi demands a retraction of the defamatory statements and an unreserved apology within 72 hours, along with the monetary damages.<\/p>\n
\u201cConsequently, we have our Client\u2019s 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 no fewer than four National Dailies, to wit: Vanguard, THISDAY, Punch, and The Cable, including your verified \u2018X\u2019 handle \u2018@aonanuga1956\u2019.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur Client is also making an unequivocal demand for monetary damages of \u20a65,000,000,000 (Five Billion Naira) only for the embarrassment your defamatory publication has caused him and his family.<\/p>\n
\u201cTake Notice that 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBe advised accordingly. While looking forward to your response, accept the assurances of our highest esteem.\u201d<\/p>\n
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Former Anambra State Governor and Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has given Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Communication and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, a 72-hour ultimatum to apologise…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":108531,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[17],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-113398","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-exclusive"],"yoast_head":"\n