NBA Nnewi Pub Sec. Ofodeme Reacts To P.C Ugwuanyi’s Retraction, Says Statement Verifiable

..Says He Carried Out His Duty As The Publicity Secretary Of The Branch

The Publicity Secretary of Nnewi branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Franklin Ofodeme Esq. has denied making any defamatory statement against the former Chairman of the branch, P.C Ugwuanyi.

Ofodeme, made this statement on Friday, in reaction to the call by Ugwuanyi, that he must retract the said defamatory statement and tender an apology to him within 7 days.

He also stated it clearly in his statement made available to TheNigerialawyer, that he will not be retracting the said alleged defamatory statement against his former Chairman, Ugwuanyi.

Ofodeme, in his defense, said he only carried out his duty as the branch Publicity Secretary which includes communicating the finds and recommendations of the Committee(s) and every other information meant to be disclosed to the members and the public.

He said: “My attention has been drawn to the publication made by P.C Ugwuanyi Esq. where he alleged that a statement released by me as the Publicity Secretary of N.B.A Nnewi Branch, was defamatory. I find that allegation ridiculous, given that there was no defamatory item on the statement. He wrote me, demanding an apology and a retraction of the statement; a statement which is factual and verifiable.

“In the said statement, I communicated the findings and recommendations of two Committees constituted by the N.B.A Nnewi Branch.

“The said findings and recommendations are contained in their Reports, which were also published. So alleging that I made false statements against him is nothing short of hocus-pocus. The Committees sat, invited him and others, made their findings, and each Committee submitted an official report, which contains their findings and recommendations.”

He also said that Mr. Ugwuanyi went as far as sending me a threatening allusion on WhatsApp, which he later claimed was sent to me in error. Of course, I do not believe him.

“He could not have sent me such item in error the same moment he confronted me with a warning letter. Such happenstance do not happen. It appears he does not like the decision of the Committees, (which I am not part of, and no Branch Officer is part of). To be fair, I have not seen one person who likes decisions that do not go in their favour. Yet it is not enough to take to the media to make it seem like there were no Committees set up and no findings made.

“Let me quickly make the point that N.B.A Nnewi Branch is NOT at war with Mr. Ugwuanyi because he is one of us and part of our success story. He has however refused to let the administration he handed over to, run the affairs of the Branch in peace. I am aware of the indelicate statements made by him against the Branch, on this online Newspaper, and several other platforms. I shall, however, not comment on that, since they are subjects of pending suits filed by him against the Branch.

“I carried out my duty as the publicity Secretary of the Branch and nothing more. Everything contained on the statement is true and verifiable.

“I am therefore unable to retract the statement or do what Mr. Ugwuanyi has demanded of me in this regard.