Obinna “Obi” Iyiegbu, also known as Obi Cubana, has filed a massive N1 billion lawsuit against the proprietors of the Lagos-based publications “PM Express” and “Daily Trust.”
The Cubana Group, headed by a Nigerian entrepreneur and businessman, has filed a lawsuit against the publishers in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) for using their news platform to disseminate defamatory information about him. The case is currently before the High Court of the FCT.
‘Their publication on April 26, 2022 depicted him as a drug baron,’ Obi Cubana said, adding that his bank accounts had been frozen by an order of the Federal High Court in Lagos. The defendants in the lawsuit are David Odey, Arinze Alinnor, Funsho Arogundade, Cyriacus Izulekwe, and Taiwo Adelu, all of whom are involved in the operation of DAFCT Communications under the name and style of the company.
In a lawsuit filed on April 27, 2022, and designated CV/1367/2022, by his attorney, Mr. Afam Osigwe (SAN), Chief Iyiegbu claimed that the publication had suffered serious financial losses as a result of the “maliciously” using his photography in reporting a story in which the entire story was not associated with him, and that the publication had incurred serious financial losses as a result of this.
“Court Orders Banks to Freeze Suspected Drug Barons’ Accounts” was the headline of a story published on the respondent’s website on April 26, 2022, with his picture being used as that of one of the two suspected drug barons, Basil Okafor Onochie and Okwuchukwu Edwin Izuxhukwu, whose accounts were reportedly ordered frozen by Justice Tijjani Ringi. Cubana, who stressed that the (NDLEA).
“Defendants’ publication made using claimant’s picture was meant to hurt claimant’s reputation by exposing him to hostility, contempt, and ridicule,” Chief Iyiebu stated.
He went on to say that the defendants’ action had been built up over time in order to boost internet traffic to their website and social media platforms, establish public prominence, and cause the most irreparable harm to the claimant’s image, enterprises, vocation, and position in society.
While claiming that the defendants’ weighty publications have cast serious aspersions on his honour, reputation, and integrity, Chief Iyiebu asserted that many individuals, businesses, friends, associates, and acquaintances, as well as members of the community, have shunned him and his company as a result of the publication.
He went on to say that the publishing subjected him to hatred, scorn, mockery, and injury in his position, profession, endeavors, and companies as a result of it.
In addition, the defendants “have demonstrated through their writings that they are engaged in a premeditated smear campaign through defamatory publications,” according to the judge.
The defendants “will not desist from the continued hosting and publication of the complained words unless they are restrained by the court,” he argued, arguing that in an increasingly networked world, online publications invariably pass through the hands of countless intermediaries who distribute, host, and index the billions of web-pages, e-mails, and social media posts that make up the internet,
The defendants were ordered to pay Cubana N1 billion in general damages for defamation of character, as well as N1 billion in professional and financial credit losses, Cubana prayed in court.
He further requested that the court issue an order requiring that interest on the above-mentioned sum be calculated at a rate of ten percent per annum from the date of judgment until the ultimate liquidation of the judgment total.
As part of his petition, he requested an order directing the defendants to conduct a global take-down or removal of alleged defamatory content against him on the internet, on social media platforms, and on Facebook, among other things. He also requested that the defendants issue a public apology in three different national newspapers.