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Protest Sponsorship Allegation: Peter Obi Threatens Onanuga with Law Suit, Demands N5bn in Damages
The Labour Party’s presidential candidate in Nigeria’s 2023 general election, Peter Obi, has initiated legal action against the Special Adviser to the President on Communication and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, wigh his legal team demanding a retraction and N5 billion in damages for a defamatory publication that they claim has significantly harmed Obi’s reputation.
The controversy began with a statement published by Onanuga on his verified “X” (formerly Twitter) handle, “@aonanuga1956,” on 20th July 2024. The post alleged that “Peter Obi’s supporters are the people planning mayhem in Nigeria” and held Obi responsible for potential anarchy. This claim was further disseminated across various social media platforms and major Nigerian news outlets.
In a strongly-worded letter addressed to Onanuga, Obi’s legal counsel, Chief Alex Ejesieme, SAN, refuted the allegations, describing them as “false and malicious.” The letter stated: “Our Client denies the entirety of the falsehood contained in the said publication and insists that there is no modicum of truth in the allegations preferred against him in your published statement.”
Obi’s lawyers argued that the publication was not only defamatory but also intended to damage Obi’s reputation and standing.
The legal team also highlighted the extensive circulation of the defamatory statement, noting its presence on platforms such as “X,” WhatsApp, and Facebook, as well as various online and print media. This widespread dissemination has allegedly caused significant embarrassment and harm to Obi and his family.
In addition to the demand for N5 billion in damages, Obi’s lawyers warned of imminent legal action if Onanuga fails to comply with their demands. “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,” the letter read.
Former Niger Delta militant leader, Mujahid Asari-Dokubo, has accused President Bola Tinubu, of betraying him after helping him (Tinubu) to emerge president in the 2023 elections.
Dokubo made the accusation in a viral video shared on social media on Saturday, lamenting how he emptied his bank accounts to canvas votes for Tinubu during the 2023 presidential election, only for the latter to abandon him and his Ijaw people.
The former warlord, however, vowed to form an alliance with the North ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“I apologise to our fathers because they were not wrong in allying with the North, and as young men, we will now start that same alliance,” he said in the video.
“From today, I will work and form an alliance with the North. President Tinubu betrayed me after I spent all my money and emptied my bank account campaigning for him.
“The Tinubu I know now isn’t the Tinubu I used to know. We will take this message across that only the Northerners can work with the Ijaw people.
“We can’t work with Yoruba people; they are a betrayal to us. We risked our lives by voting and doing everything, and this is what we get?”
“From today, I will work and form an alliance with the North. President Tinubu betrayed me after I spent all my money and emptied my bank account campaigning for him,” he insisted.
He also lamented the scrapping of the Niger Delta ministry in a recent cabinet reshuffle by the president, and the formation of a ministry of regional affairs under which the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDc) will come.
He said the ploy is to render the NDDC ineffective which using the resources from the Niger Delta region to fund other development commission.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has awarded three points, and three goals to Nigeria for the missed Libya game.
The development comes after the CAF president, Patrice Motsepe, said a thorough probe was ongoing following the recent controversy surrounding Nigeria’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Libya.
Motsepe had maintained that the continental body would not tolerate any lack of sportsmanship and unfair treatment in African football.
However, in the latest development on Saturday, a statement signed by CAF’s Chairperson of CAF Disciplinary Board, Ousmane Kane said the decision to award Nigeria the points was taken after findings by the disciplinary committee it set up to look into the matter, found Libya guilty of the inhumane treatment meted out to the Nigerian senior men’s football team.
The 5-man disciplinary committee consist of; Mr. Ousmane Kane (Senegal) Chairperson, Ms. Njeri Onyango (Kenya) Vice-Chairperson, Mr. Felix Golbassia (Tchad) Member, Mr. Patrick Shale (Lesotho) Member, and Mr. Norman Arendse (South Africa) Member.
CAF said the disciplinary board decided that; “The Libya Football Federation is found to have breached Article 31 of the African, Cup of Nations Regulations as well as Articles 82 and 151 of the CAF Disciplinary Code, and that the match No.87 Libya v. Nigeria of the CAF African Cup of Nations Qualifiers 2025 (scheduled to be played on 15 October 2024 in Benghazi) is declared lost by forfeit by Libya (by a score of 3-0).”
Following the conclusion of the board’s findings, CAF also ordered the Libya Football Federation to pay a fine of USD 50,000 within 60 days of notification of the present decision.
The players and officials were stranded for hours at a Libyan airport and denied access to food and the internet as they prepared to honour their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier with the Mediterranean Knights.
It took diplomatic efforts and social media callouts for the team to be cleared to finally leave Libya.
With the CAF decision, Nigeria is now poised to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, with two matches to spare.
The Eagles are now on 10 points from four matches, four points better than second-placed Benin Republic, while Rwanda have five points. Bottom-placed Libya have only one point and are out of the running for qualification.
Victory or draw against the Cheetahs of Benin Republic in Abidjan on Thursday, 14th November (a Matchday 5 encounter) will land the Super Eagles a ticket to the finals in Morocco, December 2025/January 2026.
