Sir Lucky Omoluwa
By Our Reporter
The Chairman of Pinnacle Communications Limited, Sir Lucky Omoluwa has commenced moves to redress the malicious publication authored by the spokesperson of the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC), Mrs Rashedat Okoduwa against his person.
He slammed a N1billion suit against Okoduwa for maliciously publicizing falsehood against him.
The suit dated December 13, 2018, and marked CV/578/20187 was filed at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Maitama by Nnamonso Ekanem SAN, on behalf of Omoluwa.
By the suit, the Pinnacle boss wants the court to order Okoduwa to pay him the sum of one billion Naira damages.
Omoluwa is also praying for a declaration that the defendant’s publication on the website of the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission from November 15, 2018 under the caption “News Release”, which is widely read in Nigeria and worldwide is libelous of claimant.
The claimant is seeking an order of public apology, retraction and rebuttal of the libelous publication and statements on the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission website and the Vanguard Newspaper, Daily Trust Newspaper and Premiumtimesng website for seven consecutive days.
In addition, Omoluwa is asking for an order of perpetual injunction restraining the defendant, her cronies, group of people, agency or anyone however called through the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission website or any website or news media used or that may be used by the defendant from further publishing or disseminating the libelous material or similar ones against the claimant forthwith.
In his statement of claim, Omoluwa said that the defendant stated that he (Omoluwa) had repeatedly failed to honour invitations from the commission to come and explain his role in the alleged N2.5 billion Digital Switch Over fraud.
Omoluwa said Okoduwa accused him of seeking leave of the Federal High Court, Abuja, to stop the investigation as well as unfreeze the Zenith Bank account of the Company that was frozen by ICPC, but was however ordered by the same court to appear before ICPC for interrogation before the next adjourned date of 3rd December, 2018 before his case would be heard.
“In compliance with the Court Order, Mr. Omoluwa has appeared before the Commission where he made useful statement to investigate…” the ICPC spokesperson alleged.
Contrary to the publication of ICPC on its website, the claimant said he did not file any suit in any court to prevent the Commission from investigating him or carrying out its statutory duties.
The claimant among other claims, stated that at all material times the commission’s website and the newspapers that subsequently quoted and reported the said “News Release”, was accessible to millions of internet users within Nigeria and worldwide.
“The claimant states that the defendant knew that once she published the statement concerning the claimant at the Commission’s website, it would be accessed by an unquantifiable number of internet users worldwide
“The claimant states that the defendant knew and intended that the news release should be republished and such republications were natural and probable consequence of the defendant’s publication of the news release on the commission’s website.
“The claimant states that the act of publication of the news release by the defendant on the commission’s website was done maliciously, capriciously aimed at tarnishing the claimant’s reputation.
“The claimant states that the defendant acted maliciously and beyond the duties of her office as there was no basis for the said publication as it concerns him as the content of the said publication were totally false as regards him since he never filed any action in any court to prevent the Commission from carrying out its statutory duties nor was he ordered by any court to go and be interrogated by the Commission.
