Former Minister of State for Defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro has sued online newspapers Sahara Reporters and Premium Times for defamation of character. Joined in the suit are The Punch Newspapers Ltd, and journalists Omoyele Sowore, Publisher of Sahara Reporters and Festus Owete, General Editor at Premium Times.
Last week, the defendants published an audio recording purporting to be Obanikoro, in a conversation with other individuals to rig the Ekiti State gubernatorial elections of 2014. Obanikoro has since denied the allegation
In the suit which was filed at the Lagos State High Court Ikeja yesterday, 10th February 2015, Senator Obanikoro is claiming damages to the tune of N1 billion.
According to the suit filed on his behalf by Dr. Yemi Oke of MJS Partners, Senator Obanikoro is seeking;
“1.) An order of perpetual injunction restraining the defendants from publishing or causing to be published either directly or indirectly, defamatory, damaging, offensive or degrading statements, articles and/or materials against the claimant, 2.) An order directing the defendant to jointly or severally pay to the claimant the sum of N1 billion being damages for harm caused to his political, professional, business, social and institutional reputation as a result of the defamation by willful and scandalous publication of false statements by the defendants, 3.) An order directing the defendants to retract the false and damaging publication by a letter of apology directed to claimant and published on the same media through which the defamatory publication was circulated and 4.) An order of court for the cost of this suit against the defendants.”
Simultaneously, Obanikoro has engaged Tacopina & Seigel to handle the same case against Sahara Reporters in New York, United States of America.
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