NEWS
Obi Threatens Tinubu’s Aide, Onanuga, With N5bn Damages Lawsuit
Former Anambra State Governor and Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has issued a 72-hour ultimatum to Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Communication and Strategy, demanding an apology.
This comes after Onanuga claimed that Obi was behind an upcoming nationwide protest.
Obi, through his counsel, Alex Ejesieme, stated that if Onanuga fails to apologize within the stipulated time, he will pursue a defamation lawsuit.
Additionally, Obi requested that the apology be published in Vanguard, THISDAY, The Punch, The Cable newspapers, and on Onanuga’s verified Twitter handle (@aonanuga1956).
The demand comes after Onanuga alleged on July 20, 2024, that Obi’s supporters were planning mayhem in Nigeria, linking him to anarchy.
Obi’s counsel described the allegation as a “calculated plot” to demean and embarrass their client, causing significant harm to his reputation and emotional well-being.
The counsel noted that the allegation went viral on social and mainstream media, maligning Obi’s hard-earned reputation.
He stressed that Obi abhors violence and has a long record of law-abiding and constructive engagement in private and public life.
The Obi’s counsel letter read in part, “The said statements are in every sense malicious and convey with them the potentiality of an ostracisation of our Client by well-meaning citizens of Nigeria. It should be stated without any form of equivocation that our Client is an elder statesman, a diplomat, and an unwavering democrat.
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“He has always tailored his affairs according to the dictates of Nigerian law. Where there has been any dissatisfaction with any process or procedure, our Client’s first and only resort has been to invoke the appropriate legal mechanisms to ventilate his grievances.
“As a matter of fact, our Client has severally urged his teeming supporters to abide by the rule of law and to abstain from any actions which could result in a breakdown of law and order.
He refrains from associating himself with protests and has constantly persuaded Nigerians to persevere.”
Continuing Obi’s counsel in the letter said, “Our Client has expressed dissatisfaction with certain policies and has voiced the same through constructive criticism, without malice or resentment.
“It is our Client’s conviction that the publication was a calculated plot to demean, ridicule, humiliate, and embarrass him by the estimation of every right-thinking member of society. It appears you have achieved your insipid motive, as well-wishers from all around the globe have inundated him with calls to register their shock.
“His appellation as ‘Okwute’ (the Rock) notwithstanding, the demeaning and scandalous publication has also caused serious emotional injury to our Client, given his decades of stellar stewardship in private and public life.”
Obi demands a retraction of the defamatory statements and an unreserved apology within 72 hours, along with the monetary damages.
“Consequently, we have our Client’s mandate to demand that you retract the statement made in the publication and tender an unreserved apology to him within 72 hours of the receipt of this letter in no fewer than four National Dailies, to wit: Vanguard, THISDAY, Punch, and The Cable, including your verified ‘X’ handle ‘@aonanuga1956’.
“Our Client is also making an unequivocal demand for monetary damages of ₦5,000,000,000 (Five Billion Naira) only for the embarrassment your defamatory publication has caused him and his family.
“Take Notice that in the event of your failure to meet the demands set out above, our Client shall be constrained to approach a Court of competent jurisdiction and take legal action against you for defamation and libel.”
“Be advised accordingly. While looking forward to your response, accept the assurances of our highest esteem.”
In a shocking incident on Sunday morning, unknown gunmen suspected to be kidnappers invaded the home of Alhaji Auwal, a prominent businessman, in Garo Town, Kabo Local Government Area of Kano State.
The gunmen, estimated to be around 10 in number, forced their way into the residence, breaking down a door to gain entry.
An anonymous source revealed that the attackers were heavily armed, with three carrying firearms and the rest wielding other weapons.
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They quickly gathered the entire family in one room, instilling fear and panic in the household.
According to the source, Alhaji Auwal pleaded with the assailants to spare his family and agreed to meet their demands.
The kidnappers, who were determined to extort money, received ₦8 million from the family.
Despite this payment, the gunmen took the businessman’s eldest daughter, Zainab, a secondary school graduate, before fleeing the scene.
The whereabouts of Zainab remain unknown, and as of now, the kidnappers have not contacted the family.
This abduction comes just 48 hours after the tragic kidnapping and subsequent murder of former Gombe State Permanent Secretary, Atiku Mu’azu, who was killed by gunmen after a ₦10 million ransom was paid.
The two incidents have left the residents of Kano in shock and fear, prompting calls for increased security measures in the area.
Attempts to reach the spokesperson for the Kano Police Command, SP Abdullahi Haruna, for comment were unsuccessful as his phone remained unreachable.
Authorities have yet to make any official statements regarding the investigation.
In a bold move, Colombian President Gustavo Petro declared on Sunday that he would not allow US deportation flights carrying Colombian migrants to access his country’s airspace.
The left-wing leader took to X (formerly Twitter) to express his strong stance, stating, “The United States cannot treat Colombian migrants as criminals. I forbid entry to our territory to US planes carrying Colombian migrants.”
Petro made it clear that such flights would only be accepted once Washington established a protocol to ensure the “dignified treatment” of deported migrants.
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The president later confirmed in a separate post that he had already turned back US military planes that were en route with Colombian migrants on board, although he did not provide further specifics on the matter.
While AFP sought confirmation from US authorities regarding the blockade of deportation flights, no immediate response was forthcoming.
Petro’s statements come just a day after Brazil’s government voiced similar outrage over the treatment of deported Brazilians.
Brazil condemned the US administration under President Donald Trump, citing instances where Brazilian migrants were deported while handcuffed on flights, describing it as a “flagrant disregard” for their basic rights.
In his remarks, Petro emphasized that he would be open to allowing civilian US flights to transport deported migrants as long as they were not subjected to treatment “like criminals,” signaling a broader call for humane treatment of migrants under international deportation policies.
An explosion at a mining site in Sabon Pegi, Mashegun Local Government Area of Niger State, claimed the lives of four individuals and left several others injured on Sunday morning.
The blast occurred as miners resumed operations, sending shockwaves through the community.
While the exact cause of the explosion remains undetermined, local residents have pointed to the poor handling of explosive devices by mining companies as a possible factor.
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The incident has sparked concerns about safety practices within the mining sector.
Community sources confirmed the recovery of four bodies, but authorities fear the death toll could rise.
Investigations are ongoing to establish the cause of the blast and assess the full extent of the damage.
One resident, Aminu, described the chaos that followed the explosion. “The sound was so loud that many of us thought it came from the hydroelectricity dam nearby. People panicked and ran into the bush for safety,” he recounted.
Another community member highlighted the potential role of mining operations in the tragedy.
“Mining companies here frequently use explosives during their activities, and this seems like an operational issue, not something related to terrorism,” the resident said, dismissing concerns about a security threat in the area.
As of the time of reporting, neither the state government nor security agencies have released an official statement regarding the explosion.
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