Defamation: PDP National Chairman, Secretary, Legal Adviser Threaten N500m Suit Against Uyo Based Publisher
The National Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Uche Secondus, the National Secretary, Senator Umaru Ibrahim Tsauri and National Legal Adviser, Barrister Emmanuel Enoidem has threatened to slam a N500 million suit against a publisher in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Mr Agba Agba, over alleged publication of falsehoods against them.
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LIST OF APPLICATIONS FOR REGULARISATION OF AREA COUNCIL LAND DOCUMENTS NULLIFIED/CANCELLED BY THE HONOURABLE MINISTER OF FCT
Agba, who is the publisher of a newspaper known as The Southern Examiner which circulates within and outside Akwa Ibom State, had on August 10, 2020, published a report that the Governor of Cross River State, Prof. Ben Ayade, through his agents bribed the PDP National Working Committee (NWC) with N500 million to pave way for the emergence of his candidates in the State Congress of the party.
LIST OF APPLICATIONS FOR REGULARISATION OF AREA COUNCIL LAND DOCUMENTS NULLIFIED/CANCELLED BY THE HONOURABLE MINISTER OF FCT
In a letter by their Counsel, Emmanuel O. Akpanb of Enoidem & Associates, dated August 10, 2020, the publisher was given seven days to publish a full retraction of the libellous publication in three consecutive editions his newspaper; and three other national newspapers as well as pay a sum of N500 million.
“Take notice that failure to accede to our above-stated demands shall leave us with no other option than to take legal actions, including institution of the appropriate civil proceedings against you in a court of competent jurisdiction. These we will do without further recourse to you. Be warned!”
The letter reads in part; “The purport of the malicious publication is that our Clients are corrupt individuals who make merchandise of their positions in the National leadership of their Party even to the detriment of the Party. The story was also published on your online platforms including your website with the host address URL:www.thesouthernexaminer.
“Our Clients, subjects of your publication and allegation under reference, are revered and accomplished national leaders and politicians who enjoy the massive support of millions of Nigerians, including members of the People’s Democratic Party.
Prince Uche Secondus is a seasoned citizen of Andoni lineage who has not only been in the pinnacle of the People’s Democratic Party but has also been a stalwart in the corporate world. Overtime, our client has maintained an unbeatable status when it has to do with management. His entrepreneurial skills are second to none, this is not unconnected with the fact that he had obtained a well-deserved Certificate of Commerce from the London Chamber of Commerce Institute. This accounts for his performance at the helm of affairs in the People’s Democratic Party and Nigeria as a whole. Our Client had functioned in several capacities including the Chamber of Commerce, Port Harcourt where he was the Deputy Chairman, the National Party of Nigeria where he served as the Rivers State Youth Leader, the National Republican Convention where he served as the Rivers State Publicity Secretary, the Rivers State People’s Democratic Party where he served as a two-term Chairman and then the Deputy National Chairman. Presently, he is the National Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party.
Our client has also held credible positions successfully in public service including:
(a) Director in Port Harcourt Flour Mill from 2001 to 2013;
(b) Director in the National Insurance Commission Pioneer Chairman of the Governing Board of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) from 2010 to 2015;
(c) Director in the Rivers State Tender’s Board from 2003 to 2005
(d) Director of the National Insurance Commission from 2004 to 2009
(e) Member of the General T. Y. Danjuma led Presidential Committee on Dialogue and Peaceful Resolution of Security Challenge in the North East from 2013 to 2015.
Senator Umaru Ibrahim Tasauri is a seasoned politician and administrator. He has overtime maintained an unquestionable integrity in the various sectors of the country. Our Client has functioned in various spheres of national life and his records are at all times meritorious. His political experiences include being a National Executive member of the then National Party of Nigeria (NPN) in the Second Republic, Chairman of the National Electoral Appeal Committee of the People’s Democratic Party’s National Convention, etc. He also held elective offices in the House of Representatives during the second Republic on the ticket of NPN and the Senate under the defunct United Nigerian People’s Congress (UNPC). In present dispensation, our Client has been a member of the Senate on the platform of the People’s Democratic party (PDP) where he served as Chairman, Senate Committee on Rules and Business, Member, Senate Committee on Federal Character and Governmental Affairs, amongst others. His experience in the private sector include, but is not limited to, being a one-time Executive Director of KATFEROX Nig. Ltd, General Manager and Chief Executive of Jamil International Company Ltd. etc. Other areas of his meritorious national service include membership of the Governing Board of National Examinations Council (NECO), chairmanship of Foundation for Better Nigeria (FBN) etc. Presently, he is the National Secretary of the People’s Democratic Party.
Our Client has additionally attained numerous awards to attest to his invincible reputation. The awards include but are not limited to the following;
(a) Award of Excellence for outstanding contribution by Federal Medical Centre, Birnin Kudu, Jigawa State. 2004.
(b) Distinguished Merit Award for Excellence in service to humanity by Professional Institution of Nigeria. 2004.
(c) Republic’s First Class Leadership Award by the National Affairs Society of Nigeria, 2004.
Barr. Emmanuel Enoidem is an accomplished legal practitioner of about thirty years standing. Apart from being a mentor and leader of several people and groups in Akwa Ibom State and across the country, our Client has a track record of meritorious services both in private practice and in the public service. He has with unblemished records, at various times, served as elected Chairman of Etim Ekpo Local Government Council; State Treasurer of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Akwa Ibom State; member of the Akwa Ibom State Executive Council where he occupied the office of Hon. Commissioner, Ministry of Housing and Urban Renewal, Ministry of Special Duties as well as pioneer Commissioner, Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment for cumulative period of about ten years. He is currently serving as the National Legal Adviser of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and, therefore, a member of the National Working Committee (NWC), National Executive Committee (NEC) and the National Caucus of the Party.
In cognizance of his selflessness and meritorious services to the society and humanity, our Client has received many awards and recognitions,
including but not limited to the following:
(a) Man of the Year 2007 by Niger Delta Leadership Forum;
(b) Worthy Ambassador of Etim Ekpo Local Government Area by Etim Ekpo Local Government Council, 2008;
(c) Certificate of Recognition for outstanding role as a great leader by Ujo Mkparawa Annang Worldwide, 2010;
(d) Patronship Award in appreciation of invaluable support to the Chapel by Federated Chapel (National Union of Journalists), 2010
(e) Award of Excellence – for meritorious service to God and the people of Akwa Ibom State by Power City International, 2011
(f) 2012 Productivity Award for Excellent Service Delivery by Akwa Ibom State Productivity Merit Award Committee;
(g) Golden Public Service Award by the Nigerian Society of Engineers, Uyo Branch, 2013;
(h) Outstanding State Commissioner Merit Award by House Of Representatives Committee on Governmental Affairs (in Collaboration with Absolute Security and Consultancy Ltd), 2014;
(i) Merit Award in recognition of services to the physical development of the State by Nigerian Institute of Town Planners, 2014;
(j) Award of Excellence – as the best performing Commissioner in Annang Land, Akwa Ibom State by Annang People’s Assembly, 2014
(k) Award of Excellence in recognition of services to the development of the Aviation Industry in Akwa Ibom State by National Association of Air Traffic Engineers
(l) Award of Excellence in honour and recognition of support and immense contribution to the formation and certification of Ati Annang by Ati Annang Foundation; and
(m) Humanity Service Award in recognition of selfless service to the Christian Community and the State at large by the Christian Youth Network.
Our Clients know absolutely nothing about the bribery saga reported in your publication and would not do anything to jeopardize the interest of the party they have worked so tirelessly to build in the last few years.
Your publication, aforesaid, is not just mendacious, it is also malicious, unwarranted, vicious, inciting, callous and highly defamatory of the hard-earned and carefully built reputation of our Clients. By your actions, our Clients have been exposed to serious ridicule, embarrassment, psychological trauma and social stigma. The publication has seriously threatened the high respect previously accorded them by professional colleagues, political associates and the general public due to the aspersion thereby cast on their personality.
In the light of the above, we are under instruction to demand from you and we hereby strongly demand that:
(a) you publish a full retraction of your highly defamatory publication under reference against our Client in three (3) consecutive editions your newspaper;
(b) the retraction should also be published in three other widely-circulated national newspaper, preferably Thisday, The Nation and Punch Newspapers; and
(c) pay to our Clients, through this office, the sum of N500,000,000 (Five Hundred Million Naira) for the serious ridicule, embarrassment, psychological trauma, social stigma and threat to their professional and political status occasioned by your defamatory publication.
All these MUST be done within seven days of the receipt of this letter, inclusive of the date of such receipt.
Take notice that failure to accede to our above-stated demands shall leave us with no other option than to take legal actions, including institution of the appropriate civil proceedings against you in a court of competent jurisdiction. These we will do without further recourse to you. Be warned!
