NBA-AGC 2020 Dis-invitation: El-Rufai Sues Omokri, Odinkalu, Onu Others For N1.5bn For Alleged Defamation

Kaduna State Governor, Nasir el-Rufai has sued former media aide
to former President, Goodluck Jonathan, Reno Omokri; ex-Chairman of
the Council of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Chidi
Odinkalu and others, alleging defamation.

In separate suits filed before the High Court of the Federal
Capital Teeritory (FCT) by his lawyer, Abdulhakeem Mustapha (SAN),
el-Rufai also named Thisday newspaper, Daniel Elombah, Elombah
Communications, Barrister Joseph Onu and Auta Nyada as
defendants.

In one of the suits, el-Rufai claimed that statements contained
in certain publication titled: “El Rufai’s email saying southern
women youth corpers are seen as whores,” by Omokri, which was
published by Thisday newspaper on Sunday 14th of June 2020 is
injurious to his reputation, adding that it is “malicious,
unwarranted and defamatory”.

The governor is seeking N500 million in compensation and an
apology to be published in the newspaper.

In another suit directed at Odinkalu, Daniel Elombah and Elombah
Communications, el- Rufai is claiming that a publication titled:
“Litany of 25 critics who have suffered at El Rufai’s hands
compiled by Chidi Odinkalu,” which was published in Elombah.com on
Wednesday September 2, 2020 is “malicious, unlawful and without any
justification.”

He is equally seeking N500million in damages and apology for the
said “defamatory and greatly injurious to his reputation.”

The governor stated that a letter written by Jospen Onu and
dated August 19, 2020, titled: “Request to withdraw the offer of
platform at the 2020 Annual General Conference of the Nigerian Bar
Association (NBA), Malam Nasir El Rufai” addressed to Prof.
Koyinsola Ajayi, SAN, in his capacity as the Chairman, Technical
Committee on Conference Planning (TCCP) Nigerian Bar Association
and copied to Dr. Olisa Agbakoba, SAN, Chairman, Board of Trustee,
Nigerian Bar Association and Mr. Olumide Akpata, the then
President-Elect of the NBA and published in the media, is
“defamatory and greatly injurious to the reputation of the
claimant.”

He is also seeking an apology and N500 million in damages.

No date has been fixed for the hearing.

Kaduna State Governor, Nasir el-Rufai has sued former media aide
to former President, Goodluck Jonathan, Reno Omokri; ex-Chairman of
the Council of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Chidi
Odinkalu and others, alleging defamation.

In separate suits filed before the High Court of the Federal
Capital Teeritory (FCT) by his lawyer, Abdulhakeem Mustapha (SAN),
el-Rufai also named Thisday newspaper, Daniel Elombah, Elombah
Communications, Barrister Joseph Onu and Auta Nyada as
defendants.

In one of the suits, el-Rufai claimed that statements contained
in certain publication titled: “El Rufai’s email saying southern
women youth corpers are seen as whores,” by Omokri, which was
published by Thisday newspaper on Sunday 14th of June 2020 is
injurious to his reputation, adding that it is “malicious,
unwarranted and defamatory”.

The governor is seeking N500 million in compensation and an
apology to be published in the newspaper.

In another suit directed at Odinkalu, Daniel Elombah and Elombah
Communications, el- Rufai is claiming that a publication titled:
“Litany of 25 critics who have suffered at El Rufai’s hands
compiled by Chidi Odinkalu,” which was published in Elombah.com on
Wednesday September 2, 2020 is “malicious, unlawful and without any
justification.”

He is equally seeking N500million in damages and apology for the
said “defamatory and greatly injurious to his reputation.”

The governor stated that a letter written by Jospen Onu and
dated August 19, 2020, titled: “Request to withdraw the offer of
platform at the 2020 Annual General Conference of the Nigerian Bar
Association (NBA), Malam Nasir El Rufai” addressed to Prof.
Koyinsola Ajayi, SAN, in his capacity as the Chairman, Technical
Committee on Conference Planning (TCCP) Nigerian Bar Association
and copied to Dr. Olisa Agbakoba, SAN, Chairman, Board of Trustee,
Nigerian Bar Association and Mr. Olumide Akpata, the then
President-Elect of the NBA and published in the media, is
“defamatory and greatly injurious to the reputation of the
claimant.”

He is also seeking an apology and N500 million in damages.

No date has been fixed for the hearing.