The scandalous audio which related how elections were allegedly rigged in favour of Governor Ayo Fayose who eventually won the election, with the help of major big wigs of the Peoples Democratic Party which includes President Jonathan, Senator Iyiola Omisore; a man identified as Honorable Abdulkareem; the Minister for Police Affairs Caleb Olubolade; and Senator Musiliu Obanikoro who was at the time the Minister of State for Defence.
The audio which went viral and rocked (probably still rocking) various online news platforms was first published by some online media namely: Sahara Reporters, Premium Times and Punch Newspaper Limited before other news platform followed suit. However, Breaking Times, has made it known that the former Minister of State for Defense, Musiliu Obanikoro has sued the three online news platforms, their owners – Sahara Reporters, Premium Times, Punch Newspapers, Omoyele Sowore, owner of Sahara Reporters and Festus Owete to the tune of for N1billion for the story on the Ekiti election fraud.
Breaking Times reports that the former minister has gone to court to seek a redress over a case he tagged defamation of character by the three news media outfits. In the suit filed at the Lagos State High Court Ikeja yesterday, 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 and 4.) An order of court for the cost of this suit against the defendants.”
The defendants are said to have 42 days to prepare their defense and make an appearance in court to defend themselves in the Lagos suit. It was also made known that Senator Obanikoro has hired Tacopina & Seigel, one of New York’s top law firms to handle Senator Obanikoro’s case against Sahara Reporters in New York, United States of America.Recall that just some days ago, the captain who leaked the audio spoke up again, talking about really led to the released audio.
Source: Naij
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