By Gideon Njoku
The allegations against him for which he is being prosecuted by the Federal Government notwithstanding, the years in the custody of the Federal Government notwithstanding, Leader of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra, IPOB, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, is conscious of who he is, and why he should, always, guard his reputation jealously. So, his anger rises to high heavens each time he feels strongly that his reputation has been injured. He takes action to rectify it
One of those times is his recent tango with Reno Omokri, a former President Bola Tinubu adversary- turned unrepentant defender.
Kanu has just taken a very strong exception to Omokri’s allegations against him and the IPOB which he still leads from the four walls of his detention facility. So, he has dragged Omokri to Court asking for a whopping amount of N60 billion, an amount he thinks would assuage his anger, and compensate him for the damages to his reputation.
The suit instituted at the Enugu State High Court, according to his lawyer, Alloy Ejimakor, is accusing Omokri of publishing defamatory and prejudicial statements against him.
Accoding to the writ of summons, the breakdown is as follows: N50 billion in general damages for alleged injury to reputation, emotional distress, and prejudice to ongoing judicial proceedings. And, another N10 billion in aggravated damages.
Kanu cited what was entered in the suit as “malicious and reckless publication of false statements” against his person by Omokri.
Huge as the money he wants paid to him is, Kanu does not think it is enough to make him forgive, so, he makes more demands.
Omokri, Kanu demands, must publish a full retraction of the offending statements in two national newspapers, and on his Twitter/X account within seven days of judgment.
He, also, wants a public apology in the same media outlets, through which Omokri must “admit to the misrepresentation of facts.”
And, there is more.
The IPOB leader has, also, asked the Court to issue a perpetual injunction to restrain Omokri, his agents, privies, or assigns from further disseminating the allegedly defamatory content without lawful justification.
In addition, he is claiming costs of the action, including legal fees, and, if there is a delay in the payment of the monetary award to him, an interest at the rate of 10 percent per annum from the date of judgment until full payment.
In his confirmation of the the lawsuit through his X page, Lawyer Ejimakor said the action is a strong response to the publications by Omokri.
Ejimakor: “Yesterday, (Thursday) Mazi Nnamdi Kanu commenced a muscular legal action against RENO OMOKRI (@renoomokri), seeking a retraction, apology & damages for Omokri’s highly defamatory & prejudicial publications against Mazi Kanu, IPOB & #Ndigbo. Others like Omokri should take note & be guided.”
Kanu has been in the custody of the Federal Government since 2021 after being renditioned from Nairobi, Kenya, an action which has been roundly condemned by both local and international Courts.
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