Alleged Defamation: Ex-Lawmaker Drags US Based Critic To Court, Demands N2bn Damages

Mr. Ned Nwoko, former House of Representatives member, has dragged Azuka Jebose, a U.S.-based critic, to High Court, Delta State seeking the sum of N2 billion as damages for alleged defamation.

Meanwhile, it was alleged that the Defendant had on many occasions taken to the social media making comments critical of him.

TheNigeriaLawyer recalls that the Defendant once alleged that the ex-Lawmaker was complicit in the murder of one Ogogo Blessing.

However, Mr Nwoko through O.J Obodaya had earlier written the Defendant vide a letter dated 2nd day of May, 2020, demanding a public apology and “retraction of defamatory publications” made against him, entitled; “Re-Demand For Public Apology And Retraction of Defamatory Publications Made Against The Person And Reputation of Hon. (Prince) Ned Nwoko of Idumuje Ugboko.”

Also joined in the suit No. EHC 99 as the second defendant is Chukwunonso Nwoko identified as “the employer and sponsor” of the first defendant, Mr Jebose.

In the Court paper, the Plaintiff alleged that “both defendants made highly defamatory publications in several online blogs and other social media platforms calculated to reduce the estimation of the claimant and denigrate his reputation in the public”.

Furthermore, he stated that the malicious publications “had continued unabated against the plaintiff in spite of warnings by his solicitors to the defendants.”

Counsel to Nwoko also stated that the first “defendant defiantly came out openly on the social media that the cautions would not be a deterrent to his defamatory publications, prompting the legal action”.

Besides, he also seeks a “public apology to be published by the defendants in at least two national daily newspapers circulating in Nigeria and social media platforms” as well as an order of perpetual injunction restraining the defendants from making any further defamatory publications against him.

However, Mr. Jebose has stated that he is not afraid of the trial.

“I’m not afraid of trial. All I’m after is justice and that the people of Onicha-Ugbo, whom he (Nwoko) has been grabbing their lands will be happy that justice is on the way,” he said.

Besides, he noted that he is yet to be in receipt of any Court process.

“But, I have not been served any process officially other than in the media reports.”

Meanwhile, he disclosed that he did not criticize the ex-Lawmaker without basis and that they are anchored on facts while alleging that the Plaintiff tries to mute critics “with military apparatuses and security agents”

“He thinks he can intimidate everyone but I cannot be intimidated,” he noted.