The Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, has vowed to challenge the defamation suit against him by the Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Peter Obi, in court.
Obi had, on Tuesday, July 23, 2024, issued a 72-hour ultimatum to Onanuga to retract his alleged defamatory statement against him.
The former governor of Anambra State gave the ultimatum after Onanuga alleged that Obi’s supporters are behind the planned nationwide protest against economic hardship in the country.
Onanuga also accused the LP supporters of destabilising Nigeria by staging “a civilian coup” against President Tinubu, adding: “If they understand the meaning of their hashtags, they will realise they are clarion calls for treason. Wanting to end an elected government is high treason. Wanting revolution is a call for a coup d’etat, which is also high treason.”
The LP later denied the allegations.
Obi, in a letter by his lawyer, Alex Ejesieme (SAN), is asking the presidential spokesman to tender a public apology published in four national newspapers over the “widespread defamation and libel” or face legal action.
Presidency: Obi should be held for anarchy
He is also demanding N5 billion in damages from Onanuga.
Reacting via a post on X on Tuesday, Onanuga said he is not afraid to face legal action, adding that he has yet received the defamation suit letter from Obi’s lawyer.
He stated: “I am still waiting for the letter from Peter Obi’s lawyer threatening a N5 billion suit and demanding an apology to Peter Obi over the planned ‘revolution’.
“Let me just tell Obi and his lawyer: I am not afraid of any legal action. We shall meet in court.”
Nigerians in some sections of the country have planned to embark on a week-long protest over hunger and insecurity.
While some groups and individuals have distanced themselves from the planned protest, others insisted it must hold to draw the attention of the government and the international community to the sufferings of Nigerians.
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