Ex-Minister of State for Defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro has allegedly sued online newspapers; Sahara Reporters, Punch Newspapers and Premium Times over defamation of personality.
The defendants are Omoyele Sowore, Publisher of Sahara Reporters, Festus Owete, General Editor at Premium Times and the Punch Newspapers.
The BreakingTimes reported that the accused had published an audio recording of Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, purportedly in a conversation with other individuals to rig the Ekiti State gubernatorial elections, an allegation Senator Obanikoro and the others have since disclaimed.
In a suit filed at the Lagos State High Court Ikeja on Tuesday, 10th February 2015, Senator Obanikoro is suing the defendants for 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.
4.) An order of court for the cost of this suit against the defendants.”