By Gbenga Abulude (Politics and General Desk)
Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai has filed a N1.5 billion defamatory suit against Reno Omokri, media aide to former President Goodluck Jonathan, human rights activist, Prof. Chidi Odinkalu and others.
El-Rufai filed the separate suits through his lawyer, A.U. Mustapha (SAN) before the FCT High Court. Joined as defendants are: ThisDay Newspaper, Daniel Elombah, Elombah Communications, Joseph Onu and Auta Nyada.
In the case against Omokri, the governor contends that statements contained in his publication titled: “El Rufai’s e-mail saying southern women youth corps members are seen as whores” which was published by ThisDay Newspaper on Sunday 14th of June 2020, is injurious to his reputation, adding that it is malicious, unwarranted and defamatory.
The governor demanded N500m in compensation and an apology published in the newspaper.
In the suit against Odinkalu, Daniel Elombah and Elombah Communications, El-Rufai contends that the publication titled: “Litany of 25 critics who have suffered at El-Rufai’s hands” compiled by Chidi Odinkalu which was published in Elombah.com on September 2, 2020 is malicious, unlawful and without any justification
He demanded N500m in damages and an apology for the alleged defamatory publication, saying the report was injurious to his reputation.
Gov. El- Rufai also argued that the letter written by Joseph Onu and dated August 19, 2020 titled: “Request to withdraw the offer of platform at the 2020 Annual General Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Malam Nasir El Rufai” addressed to Prof. Koyinsola Ajayi (SAN) in his capacity as the chairman, technical committee on conference planning of the NBA and published in the media is defamatory and greatly injurious to the reputation of the claimant.
According to El-Rufai, Dr. Olisa Agbakoba (SAN), Chairman, Board of Trustee, NBA and Mr. Olumide Akpata, the President of the NBA were copied in the letter.
The governor also demands an apology and N500m in damages. Meanwhile, no date has been fixed for the hearing.
Recall that El-Rufai was stopped from delivering his address at the 2020 annual general conference of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) under controversial circumstances.
Reno Omokri has been critical of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration and the ruling party All Progressives Party (APC) including the Kaduna State Governor.
