N2.5bn Libel Suit : Lauretta Onochie Caused Me Mental, Psychological Trauma, Atiku Tells Court

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has narrated before a High
Court of the Federal Capital Territory, how President Muhammadu
Buhari’s aide, Lauretta Onochie, caused him mental and
psychological trauma through what he termed as fabricated offensive
electronic messages.

Atiku who was the presidential candidate of the opposition
Peoples Democratic Party, in the last general election, told the
court that Onochie levelled series of “baseless allegations”
against him on twitter and facebook, to the extent that his
hard-earned reputation and all that he laboured for over the years,
was destroyed.

In a witness statement on oath he personally deposed to before
the court, Atiku, decried that all the alleged disparaging social
media posts against him came at a time he was challenging President
Buhari’s re-election before the Presidential Election Petition
Tribunal Tribunal, insisting that Onochie’s action was “accentuated
by malice and bad faith”.

He specifically prayed the court to punish Onochie who is
Buhari’s Special Assistant on Social Media, over a post she shared
through her twitter handle on May 7 and on Facebook on May 20.
In a libel suit he filed through his lawyer, Chief Mike Ozekhome,
SAN, the former VP demanded for N2.5billion representing general,
aggravated, punitive and exemplary damages over the untold
embarrassment, derision, public ridicule, odium, obloquy, marital
disharmony, mental agony and psychological trauma which the
Defendant’s publications have caused him.

According to Atiku, Onochie had in the said post, portrayed him
as someone on the watch list of security operatives in the United
Arab Emirates, and who had travelled to shop for terrorists in the
Middle East.

He told the court that his public image was battered by the
allegation to the extent that he was regarded as a security threat
both within and outside the country.

He said he would in the course of the hearing, tender call logs
showing an avalanche of text messages and calls he received in the
aftermath of Onochie’s posts.

“That I am the Claimant in this suit and by virtue of which I am
seized with the facts deposed herein.

‘I am an astute politician, a businessman and a philanthropist
and former Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“That I am a notable and a respected personality in my
community, Nigeria and the World at large, a distinguished Elder
Statesman, who has served the Nigerian people, the Federal
Government of Nigeria and humanity in various capacities.

“I had a sterling career in the political sector.

“That sometime in May 2019, I embarked on a foreign trip to the
United Arabs Emirates (UAE), as I have done over the years.

“That while still in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on the said
trip, the Defendant on 7th day of May, 2019, through her twitter
handle page, which is linked to, and belongs to the Defendant,
published a most libellous story about me on her said twitter and
also published same globally online on the social and other print
media and electronic media, making the following false and
unfounded allegations against me.

“Atiku on UAE watchlist-Security sources Security operatives in
the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are keeping a close tab on a former
Nigerian Vice Pres Atiku Abubakar who has been in the Middle East
nation for several weeks now What is he doing there? Me: Shopping
for Terrorists?”.

“That in the said defamatory publication against me made by the
defendant on 7th May 2019, the defendant amongst other baseless
allegations falsely and maliciously accused me of being on the
watch list of Security Operatives in the United Arabs Emirates
(UAE).

“The defendant further falsely accused me of shopping for
terrorists in the Middle East, thereby portraying me as an evil
man, mentor of terrorists, someone who has links with terrorists,
and a person who is interested in destabilizing the peace and unity
of Nigeria. The publication also portrayed me as a security threat
and terrorist to right-thinking members of the public and the
society at large.

“That since the 7th day of May 2019, when the said libellous and
offensive electronic message vide twitter, was sent and also
published globally online `in the social and other print media, the
odious publication has clearly rubbished my image and
reputation.

“It has caused me national and international backlash and
embarrassment and has done incalculable damage to me.

“The publication of the defendant has also caused me, in the
eyes of reasonable members of the public, unspeakable odium,
obloquy, hatred, ridicule, mental and psychological trauma.

“I have thereby been subjected to the shame and infamy of being
viewed by members of the public as not only corrupt but as a
terrorist and sponsor of terrorism.

“Numerous telephone calls, emails, visits, letters and private
social media chats by my family members, friends, political and
business associate, and international statesmen and women attest to
the alarm and serious concerns generated by the defendant’s false
publication.

“I categorically deny each and every allegation contained in the
said publication which is a figment of the imagination of the
defendant. I state most emphatically that the entire opprobrious
and denigrating story above referred to is most misleading,
baseless, false, malicious and totally bereft of any foundation
howsoever.

“I state most emphatically that the inference and grave
conclusions made by the defendant in the obviously politically
orchestrated story were invented by the defendant and others of her
ilk, solely to cause maximum damage to my high reputation.

“That Contrary to the defendant’s derogatory, disparaging,
mendacious and unrestrained defamatory statement, as published in
various print, electronic and online media platforms, and as
concerning me, is not and I have never been on the security watch
list of UAE, or any other country, for that matter. I have neither
ever been denied entry into, interrogated, nor been
declared wanted by the UAE Authorities, or any of its security
agencies.

“That I was at the time of the said publication in the UAE and
was never accosted by any security agencies over the said frivolous
and baseless allegations.

“That the allegation by the Defendant to the effect that I was
shopping for terrorists is not only dishonest and reckless but was
calculated and

“Politically, designed to instigate agents against me not only
in the UAE but across the world”, Atiku averred.

He told the court that the Defendant failed to retract her
allegations, despite a letter his lawyer wrote to her on May 14 to
that effect.

Atiku said rather than to apologize to him, Onochie, in a
follow-up post on facebook on May 20, “portrayed me to
right-thinking members of the society as a depressed person without
the mental fitness to hold the office of the President of the
Federal Republic of Nigeria or any public whatsoever”.

He said: “Further and by way of innuendo, the defamatory words
complained of the above used by the Defendant also meant and were
understood to mean that I am a hypocrite”.

“That after these defamatory publications by the Defendant,
several people, both within and outside the country, who read the
publications have called me and expressed their disappointment that
they never knew that I was a man of dubious character and a sponsor
of terrorists, despite my apparent sterling and distinguished
career in the public sector and enviable achievements in the
private sector.

“Some of them challenged me to sue the author of the
publications to clear my name if I believed that the publications
were false.

“That it is most uncharitable of the Defendant to disparage my
reputation, who has done everything humanly possible to serve
Nigeria and humanity with a view to alleviating poverty and
unemployment in Nigeria and beyond.

“That I deserve accolades for my personal commitment and
sacrifices by creating employment and alleviating poverty through
the empowerment of the youths. I have made outstanding
contributions to the development of our country and humanity for
which I do not deserve to be insulted or vilified.

“I plead that my character, reputation, person, psyche, honour,
dignity, being and all I have ever stood for in life, have been
smeared, maligned, assaulted and denigrated, without any
justifiable basis by the electronic messages vide twitter and
facebook, and also published globally online in the social and
other print media circulated around the World by the Defendant.

“That upon the receipt of the electronic messages vide twitter
and facebook, containing the highly libelous statements, the
contents have been the subject matter of discussion in my
matrimonial home and amongst other persons who heard about them
both within and outside the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“That unless restrained by an order of this Honourable court,
the Defendant will continue to cause to be published, the same, or
similar defamatory publications against me.

“Upon the afore pleaded premises, that I am entitled to
punitive, exemplary and aggravated damages, as well as injunctive
reliefs against the Defendant.

“That I shall at the hearing of this suit, found upon all the
documents relating to the facts pleaded herein, including, but not
limited to the electronic messages vide twitter, facebook, other
text messages, letters and e-mails from family members, concerned
relatives and associate all over the World”, Atiku added.

Aside praying for an order of perpetual injunction restraining
the Defendant from making further offensive posts against him,
Atiku, also sought an order compelling the defendant to make a
retraction of, and an apology to him for the said offensive twitter
and facebook publications on the same platforms, and also to be
published in three national newspapers with wide circulation within
the country and also broadcast on AIT, Channels and NTA television
stations.

Atiku also sought an order compelling her to write to him, “a
letter of unreserved apology for the said offensive twitter and
facebook publications.”

NAF Fabricates APU Test Stand for Aircraft

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has recorded another feat in the
area of Research and Development (R & D) as it has successfully
fabricated a GTCP85 Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) Test Stand for the
C-130H aircraft fleet. The local production of this Ground Support
Equipment (GSE), carried out by personnel at 631 Aircraft
Maintenance Depot (631 ACMD) Ikeja, is another innovative project
that would facilitate the operations of the C-130H fleet, thereby
enhancing its availability for logistics missions. The feat is
coming barely a month after the successful local production of the
hydraulic diaphragm for the L-39ZA aircraft fleet at the 403 Flying
Training School, Kano.

Speaking while commissioning the APU at the 631 ACMD today, 2
December 2019, the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal
Sadique Abubakar, stated that the NAF had continued to develop
human capacity through robust and result oriented training that has
in turn had tremendous impact on its R&D efforts to develop
indigenous technological solutions to engineering and technical
problems. He said, in a bid to ensure the continued development of
local capacity, the NAF has entered into partnerships with a host
of local and international organizations as well as academic
institutions, including some Nigerian Universities. He said the
local production of the APU Test Stand was a product of these
initiatives and was in line with the commitment to reinforce the
culture of self-reliance through R&D.

The CAS therefore commended the Commander 631 ACMD, Air Vice
Marshal (AVM) Moses Onilede and his team for a job well done. “I am
equally happy to note that the equipment stands out among its kind.
The use of this equipment will save the nation huge foreign
exchange and has equally repositioned the Depot for better service
delivery. It is quite important to state that our modest
accomplishments so far have greatly enhanced the serviceability of
our aircraft holding, thereby enabling us to project Air Power not
only within our country but also beyond the shores of Nigeria. The
NAF thus stands ready to continue to fulfill its primary
responsibility whilst also providing aid to civil authority in
whatever roles that may from time to time be required,” he
assured.

Air Marshal Abubakar also implored aircraft engineers not to
rest on their oars but to continuously conduct research so as to
keep pace with technological advancements in the world with a view
to providing solutions to various challenges. “You would agree with
me that the world is ever-evolving, and that engineers play a
critical role in providing technological solutions to societal
problems. Engineers are therefore expected to work extra hard to
provide innovative solutions to make things happen by exploring a
good mix of knowledge with innovative ideas and creativity”, he
said. While thanking the President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed
Forces, President Muhammadu Buhari, the CAS stated that the various
achievements recorded by the NAF over the years would not have been
possible without the enabling environment and resources provided by
the Federal Government.

It would be recalled that upon the passing of the Air Force
Institute of Technology (AFIT) Bill and establishment of the Air
Force Research and Development Centre (AFRDC), the number of NAF’s
successful R &D breakthroughs has continued to increase. For
instance, the NAF was able to design and produce the first
indigenous operational Unmanned Aerial Vehicle named ‘Tsaigumi’.
The NAF also acquired patent rights for the production of Hydraulic
Accumulation Diaphragm, which is a critical item required to
operate the Mi-35 helicopter gunship thereby boosting NAF
operational capabilities in the North East. Weaponization of some
A-Jet aircraft, L-39ZA, Bell 412, Agusta 109LUH, Mi-17 and EC-135
helicopters for deployment in the ground attack role were also
successfully carried out. Moreover, the Design and production of a
test bench for the Alpha Jet anti-skid system in collaboration with
the University of Maiduguri as well as the local repair of Alpha
Jet Engines by NAF Technicians are some of the giant leaps the NAF
had taken to conserve foreign exchange while ensuring maintenance
of capacity to perform the critical role of conducting air
operations in support of surface forces and in response to national
security imperatives.

Earlier in his welcome address, the Commander 631 ACMD disclosed
that the APU test stand was fabricated by personnel who were
trained on equipment at the reactivated Machine Tools and
Structural Repair Workshops of the Unit. According to him, the APU
test stand is a unique Aircraft GSE designed to serve many purposes
such as ground power unit to supply electrical power for the
aircraft, air cart to produce bleed air to start aircraft engines
as well as test the C-130 generator. AVM Onilede further disclosed
that, with the Test stand, the capacity of 631 ACMD to maintain and
repair the APU has been greatly enhanced. The APU Test stand, the
Commander said, has been used to repair one unserviceable APU in
the Unit. He said most of the parts used to fabricate the test
stand were sourced locally while those requiring machining were
machined in the reactivated Machine Tools Workshop without any
foreign assistance. The Team that fabricated the APU was composed
mainly of young officers led by Flight Lieutenants Olajide Oyekunle
and Gabriel Onoh.

IBIKUNLE DARAMOLA
Air Commodore
Director of Public Relations and Information
Nigerian Air Force
………….

NAF GROUND TRAINING COMMAND HOLDS MAIDEN SEMINAR ON LAWS OF
ARMED CONFLICT

In view of the need to sustain the awareness among personnel on
the imperatives of strict observance of the Laws of Armed Conflict
(LOAC) during military operations as well as ensure Commanders
remain conversant with their responsibilities, the Nigerian Air
Force (NAF) Ground Training Command (GTC) today, 2 December 2019,
commenced its Maiden LOAC Seminar. The two-day Seminar, with the
theme “Observance of LOAC: A Panacea for Successful Military
Operations”, is holding at the 551 NAF Station Jos.

In his remarks during the opening ceremony, the Chief of the Air
Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, who was represented by
the Air Secretary Headquarters NAF, Air Vice Marshal (AVM) Mohammed
Ahmed, noted that one of the focal points of his vision is the
development of human capacity for enhanced professional
performance. This, he stated, was premised on the fact that he is a
firm believer that an individual can only give what he/she has and
a human being can only add value to society if he/she has what it
takes to do so. Besides, he observed that an individual’s value to
any community is substantially defined by how much knowledge and
capacity he/she has. He said this focus has had tremendous impact
on the ability of the Service to effectively discharge its
constitutional roles. “I am happy to note that we have made
substantial progress in the development of human capacity in all
specialties within the NAF. This Seminar is one case of such
efforts”, he said.

While recounting that the NAF Directorate of Legal Services had
organized a similar Seminar in March 2019, the CAS emphasized that
the GTC Seminar was aimed at further expanding the target audience
in the wake of increasing observations of human rights abuses
within the theatres of operation and their attendant negative
consequences on military operations. According to the CAS, “it has
become increasingly important to constantly remind ourselves on the
rules and regulations guiding the use of arms in crises situations
particularly during internal security operations”. Air Marshal
Abubakar, who expressed confidence in the calibre of resource
persons at the Seminar, urged participants to be broad minded and
come up with innovative ideas that would improve the observance of
human rights by the NAF in the performance of its constitutional
roles. He added that the NAF, in keeping with its usual practice,
would use the recommendations of the seminar to improve its
processes and procedures.

In his welcome address, the Air Officer Commanding (AOC) GTC,
Air Vice Marshal Idi Amin, said the Command was aware that the
products from its various training institutions, particularly
Regiment and Special Forces personnel who are deployed mainly for
ground operations in various theatres of conflict within the
country, need to be equipped with requisite knowledge that would
guide their conduct. He said the Seminar was accordingly being held
to increase awareness among the personnel as well as create
consciousness among Commanders of their responsibilities with
respect to LOAC. He said the outcome of the Seminar would also be
used to enhance the training curricula of both the Military
Training Centre and the Regiment Training Centre. While thanking
the CAS for his guidance, support and visionary leadership, the AOC
pledged the commitment of the officers and airmen/airwomen of the
Command to continue contributing their quota towards the
accomplishment of the NAF’s Mission.

The first paper titled “Observance of the Law of Armed Conflict
During Military Operations” was delivered by AVM Ahmed and
discussed by Professor CJ Dakas of the University of Jos, Brig Gen
FJ Udaya (rtd) of the National Institute of Policy and Strategic
Studies (NIPSS) and Major AB Bello (rtd) of the International
Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). Other papers to be delivered
during the Seminar are “Command and Individual Responsibilities
during Asymmetric and Internal Security Operations” and “Ensuring
Human Rights and Public Trust during Military Operations in
Internal Security”. In attendance at the Seminar are Branch Chiefs
from Headquarters NAF, Air Officers Commanding as well as many
other senior military officers, both serving and retired, and
personnel from units under GTC.

IBIKUNLE DARAMOLA
Air Commodore
Director of Public Relations and Information
Nigerian Air Force