Libel: Atiku Demands N2.5 Billion From Buhari’s Aide

Says He Received Several Calls, SMS After She Labelled Him A Terrorist

Atiku Abubakar has said that he received several text messages and calls from near and wide after President Muhammadu Buhari’s special assistant on social media, Mrs. Lauretta Onochie alleged in a tweet that he was on the watchlist in the United Arab Emirates.

Atiku’s deposition is contained in a N2.5 billion suit he has instituted against the presidential aide for compensation and exemplary damages to his reputation.

In the suit filed through his lawyer, Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN Atiku said that “To say that the claimant is shopping for terrorists knowing same to be untrue and without any foundation is not only dishonest and reckless, but is calculated and politically designed to instigate security agents against him not only in the UAE, but across the world.”

The suit was filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja and follows the failure of Mrs. Onochie according to him to retract or show remorse over the tweet.

He said that he would show his call logs to show phone calls and text messages he received following the tweet

Mrs. Onochie had in her tweet said: “Atiku on UAE watchlist- Security sources Security operatives in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are keeping a close tab on a former Nigerian Vice Pres Atiku Abubakar who has been in the Middle East nation for several weeks now What is he doing there? Me: Shopping for Terrorists?”

Atiku had following the tweet immediately demanded for a retraction failing which he would proceed to court.https://gwg.ng/2019/05/19/terrorism-label-atiku-threatens-lauretta-onochie-with-n2-billion-law-suit/

According to him the tweet showed him to be “an evil man, mentor of terrorists, someone who has links with terrorists, and a person who is interested in destabilising the peace and unity of Nigeria”.

“The publication also portrayed the claimant as a security threat and terrorist to right thinking members of the public and the society at large,” Atiku further deposed.

“The odious publication has clearly  rubbished the claimant’s image and reputation. It has caused him national and international backlash and embarrassment and has done incalculable damage to him.

“He has thereby been subjected to the shame and infamy of being viewed by members of the public as not only corrupt, but as a terrorist and sponsor of terrorism.”

Observing that “he has neither ever been denied entry into, interrogated, nor been declared wanted by the UAE Authorities, or any of its security agencies.

“That Claimant was at the time of the said publication in the UAE and was never accosted by any security agencies over the said frivolous and baseless allegations.”

Besides the sum of N2.5 billion, Atiku is also asking for a letter of unreserved apologies from Onochie and for retractions to be made on the same social media handles and in three national newspapers with wide circulation within the country and also broadcast on AIT, Channels and NTA television stations.

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