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The Ogun State High Court has summoned Senator Femi Okunrounmu to face libelous charge for allegedly granting interview in a newspaper and described former Governor Olusegun Osoba as “traitor and double-faced politician” who betrayed the acclaimed winner of June 13, 1993 Presidential election, late Chief MKO Abiola.
Okunrounmu, a chieftain of the Pan Yoruba Social Cultural Group, Afenifere was on November 13 served a writ of summon by the court, which he personally received in his private residence located at number 3 Senator Okunrounmu close, Oloke junction off Ibara Government Reservation Area(GRA), Abeokuta.
The writ summon with charge number AB/493/19 was handed over to Okunrounmu by a bailiff identified as Mr T Adesanya at .8.53am, with an order that he should appear in court within seven day of receipt.
‘You are hereby commanded that within seven days after the service of this writ on you, inclusive of the day of such service, uou cause an appearance to be entered for you in an action at the suit of Chief Olusegun Osoba of 1 Ataba Close Ibara GRA,Abeokuta, Ogun State and take notice that in default of your so doing the claimant may proceed therein, and judgement may be given in your absence’,the summon reads.
The certified true copy of the writ summon signed by Assistant Chief Registrar, Mr E.O Fatade, added, ’This writ is to be served within six calendar months from the date thereof, or if renewed, within three calendar months from the date of the last renewal. including the day of such date, and not afterwards’
The former Governor, it is recalled had through his lawyer, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN) dragged Okunrounmu to Ogun State High Court sitting in Abeokuta over a publication credited to the defendant, where he described Osoba as “traitor and double-faced politician” who betrayed the acclaimed winner of June 13, 1993 Presidential election, late Chief MKO Abiola.
The former Governor, shortly after the publication had through his counsel given Okurounmu a 14-day ultimatum to retract the controversial publication in two national newspapers and also demanded a sum N3billion as aggravated and exemplary damages.
Chief Osoba had in a letter issued by his lawyer on July 23 letter, pointed out that the words employed by Okunrounmu in defaming his client were weighty and far-reaching, arguing that his client’s “hard-earned reputation” has been seriously dented and damaged by the publications while “he has also suffered considerable distress and embarrassment.”
The Senior Advocate of Nigeria, therefore, demanded a retraction of the said interviews and a public apology to be published on the front pages of seven consecutive editions of the concerned newspapers,(Daily Independent)
Osoba in the suit filed by his counsel stated, “arising from the foregoing, we have the further instruction of our client to demand from you the following: “Directing a retraction of the said interviews granted by you and published in the Daily Independent newspaper of Thursday, July 11, 2019 and the Saturday Sun newspaper of July 20, 2019;
“Public apology to our client to be published on the front pages of seven (7) consecutive editions of both newspapers, starting from Monday, 29th July, 2019; “A sum of N3,000,000,000.00 (Three Billion Naira) as damages for the said libelous publications.
“You are given fourteen (14) days from the date of this letter within which to comply with our client’s simple demands; otherwise, our final instruction is to commence proceedings against you, claiming reliefs in terms of the said demands, plus aggravated and exemplary damages.”
