A human rights activist and lawyer, Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN), has given Sahara Reporters and one Mr. Israel Olayiwola, seven days to retract alleged defamatory statements made against him or face a N5 billion legal action.
Ozekhome’s counsel, Benson Igbanoi, gave the ultimatum on Thursday in a notice he served on the issue.
Ozekhome accused Sahara Reporters and Olayiwola of committing defamation in view of some allegations made against him in an article written by Olayiwola.
The lawyer accused Olayiwola of berating him in the article, for running a commentary said to be critical of the suspended acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ibrahim Magu, who is being probed over alleged financial malpractices.
Ozekhome said that in his bid to justify his unfounded defamatory conclusion against him listed some of his alleged past activities to falsely assert that he had no moral right to condemn corruption in the country as he was “corruption personified.”
Ozekhome who countered all the allegations against him by Olayiwola, called for an immediate retraction of the publication against him.
According to him, the publication was premised on falsehood and purposely done to destroy his reputation which he said he struggled over the years to build.
“This letter is a clear warning to give you an opportunity to accept the Olive branch extended to you by our client, whose feelings, name, character, dignity and reputation have been gravely and deeply injured by your reckless and ill-intentioned publications. A word is enough for the wise. To say more at this stage will be otiose,” Ozekhome’s counsel letter reads in part.
The letter reads further: “TAKE NOTICE that in the event that our client is thus compelled to approach the court for redress, we shall be claiming from you and the above mentioned entity and persons, reliefs that will, in addition to the above accommodating demands, include aggravated, punitive and exemplary damages in the sum of N5 billion only.”
