True to an earlier statement issued
on his behalf, Chairman, Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON), Chief Tony
Okoroji has filed a suit at the High Court of Lagos State, Ikeja asking for the
sum of Two Hundred and Twelve Million Naira for libel against embattled former
member of the COSON Board, Mr. Efe Omorogbe.
The suit supported by a 29 paragraph
Statement of Claim, several exhibits and witnesses was filed on behalf of Chief
Okoroji by Tochukwu Tagbo and Christian Eneje of the Lagos law firm of
Commercial Practice Solicitors
In the Statement of Claim, Chief
Okoroji pleaded that on January 16, 2018, Mr Omorogbe organised a major press
conference at Protea Hotel, Isaac John Street, GRA, Ikeja, which was attended
by numerous representatives of the press, widely reported in newspapers and
magazines across the country, viewed by millions of people on television and on
the internet across the world and that at the conference, Mr. Omorogbe made
several defamatory statements against him.
Chief Okoroji also pleaded that Mr
Omorogbe caused to be published in City People Magazine dated 31st January
2018, further words defamatory of him and that indeed, Omorogbe further caused
to be published in Vanguard Newspaper dated 20th January 2018 other words and
statements defamatory of him and that Mr. Omorogbe took active steps to ensure
that his devastating words against the Claimant (Chief Okoroji) were widely
published, broadcast, posted on several websites on the internet and
republished in the press with the intention of doing the most horrendous damage
to Chief Okoroji’s good name, character and reputation.
Chief Okoroji also pleaded in the Statement
of Claim that in widely publishing the words and statements complained of in
the suit, Mr. Omorogbe was actuated by blatant malice as he knew very well that
his words and statements are patently false as Omorogbe very well knows that
the Claimant is a man of impeccable character and honour and an outstanding
Nigerian and that Omorogbe in publishing and/or causing to be published the
sordid and reckless words was motivated by the naked desire to destroy the
Claimant and usurp the Claimant’s position.
Apart from the damages and cost asked
for, Chief Okoroji has also asked for an injunction restraining Efe Omorogbe,
his servants or agents or otherwise, from further publishing or broadcasting,
or causing to be published or broadcast, the said words or any words similarly
defamatory of Chief Okoroji
The suit filed by Chief Okoroji is
different from the court action filed by COSON against Mr. Omorogbe.
No comments:
Post a Comment