Onanuga had earlier alleged that Obi and his supporters were responsible for the planned nationwide protests against the Tinubu-led government
By Kehinde Okeowo
President Bola Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Communications and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, has dared the Labour Party (LP) 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, to sue him.
Onanuga’s reaction came after Obi threatened to institute a lawsuit against him after he alleged that the former governor and his supporters were responsible for the planned nationwide protests against the Tinubu-led government.
Obi had in a letter signed by his lawyer, Alex Ejesieme, urged the presidential spokesman to retract his statement and tender an unreserved apology to him within 72 hours.
Ejesieme described the allegation as a “calculated plot” to demean, embarrass and cause significant harm to his client’s reputation and emotional well-being.
He went on to demand N5 billion in damages from Onanuga over the said allegation.
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The letter read in part, “The said statements are in every sense malicious and convey with them the potentiality of an ostracisation of our Client by well-meaning citizens of Nigeria. It should be stated without any form of equivocation that our Client is an elder statesman, a diplomat, and an unwavering democrat.”
Obi’s lawyer added, “Consequently, we have our Client’s mandate to demand that you retract the statement made in the publication and tender an unreserved apology to him within 72 hours of the receipt of this letter in no fewer than four National Dailies, to wit: Vanguard, THISDAY, Punch, and The Cable, including your verified ‘X’ handle ‘@aonanuga1956’.
“Our Client is also making an unequivocal demand for monetary damages of ₦5,000,000,000 (Five Billion Naira) only for the embarrassment your defamatory publication has caused him and his family.
“Take Notice that in the event of your failure to meet the demands set out above, our Client shall be constrained to approach a Court of competent jurisdiction and take legal action against you for defamation and libel.”
Reacting to the threat, Onanuga, in a fresh post on his official X handle on Tuesday, said: “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.”