Akin kuponiyi

Former Nigeria’s House of Representatives member, Abike Dabiri-Erewa today slammed a N500 million libel suit on Diamond bank Plc for maliciously publishing her name as one of the bank’s chronic debtors.

Joined as co-defendant in the ensuing legal warfare is Punch Newspapers Limited.

In an affidavit filed by Lagos lawyer, Adetokunbo Mumuni, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, three-term member of the House, averred that on the 4th of August 2015,as early as 6 a. m. she was bombarded with calls,text messages and other social media networks telling her about a report in the Punch newspapers of that day which said that her company Thriller Endeavours was indebted to Diamond bank Plc

The report was on the front page of the newspaper alleging that her so-called company Thriller Endeavours is indebted to the bank to the tune of N122,912,031.06

She averred further that she is neither a subscriber to the memorandum and article of association of the said Thriller Endeavours nor is she a Director of the said company alleged to be owing Diamond Bank.

She claimed the bank was engaging in mischief of deliberate kind to have included her name as a Director of Thriller Endeavours when indeed and in truth she has nothing to do with the company. She also claimed that the Punch newspaper engaged in monumental mischief when it published her name on pages. 1,21 and 31 of its 4th August,2015 edition as the person whose company was indebted to Diamond Bank Plc.

Abike Dabiri averred that being a well known politician, the said publication has subjected her to public opprobrium,ridicule,and embarrassment of monumental proportion.

Consequently,she mandated her lawyer to forward a letter to the defendants for a retraction but they refused to comply with her demand

She is therefore claiming among others:

*N500million against the defendants jointly and severally as damages for the reputational injury she had suffered

* a court declaration that the publication which has no foundation in truth, have defamed and injured her character and suffered reputational damage.

* a court to order on the defendants to pay N3million being the sum paid as professional fees to her solicitors

* An order of the court directing the defendants separately and jointly to render a public apology to her in respect of the false publication made which must be publish in three national dailies in addition to the punch publication.