Secondus Files N5bn Suit Against Afegbua Over Alleged ‘Defamation Of Character’

The National Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party, Uche
Secondus, has sued a former Commissioner of Information in Edo
State, Prince Afegbua, at the High Court of the Federal Capital
Territory for alleged libellous publications against his
person.

In the writ of summons which was filed by Emeka Etiaba (SAN),
Secondus alleged that Afegbua made allegations claiming that he
misappropriated money to the tune of N10bn which belonged to the
PDP.

Also joined in the suit are the Media Trust Limited and the Sun
Publishing Limited who were alleged to have published the
statement.

Secondus is praying the court for a declaration that Afegbua had
failed to prove that the N10bn was proceeds of sale of nomination
forms and that the claim was false and malicious.

Secondus demanded N5bn “being general damages for the
humiliation, castigation, vilification, attack of the claimant’s
integrity and person by the defamatory publications.”

He also prayed for an order directing the defendants to publish
a written apology in the news and social media, including the Daily
Sun Newspaper, Daily Trust Newspaper, ThisDay Newspaper, The PUNCH
Newspaper, The Guardian Newspaper, Pilot, New Telegraph, Nigerian
Television Authority, African Independent Television, The Nation
and Channels Television among others.

He also prayed the court to make an order restraining the
defendants from making more defamatory publications against
him.

Secondus alleged that the said publication had affected his
right standing in the society as prominent members of the party and
members of the society across the world have read it.

“An Order of Perpetual Injunction restraining the Defendants,
their agents and privies from further making the defamatory
publications against the Claimant.

“Damages for the sum of N5,000,000,000.00 (Five Billion Naira)
only, being general damages for the humiliation, castigation,
vilification, attack of the Claimant’s integrity and person by the
defamatory publications.

“Prince Secondus further claims that the publications are false
and the said publications which the 1st Defendant knows to be false
have brought him to odium and have seriously challenged his right
standing in the society as a trustworthy character.

“Prince Secondus also noted that the libelous publications have
been read by prominent members of the Peoples Democratic Party,
members of the Public (both Nigerians and non-Nigerians) as they
were published in several news and social media such as Facebook,
Twitter, Instagram and others operating both in Nigeria and in the
whole world.”

Secondus said the publications were read by his pastors,
governors, senators, lawmakers, commissioners, prominent members of
his party and have portrayed his personality in bad light.

The National Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party, Uche
Secondus, has sued a former Commissioner of Information in Edo
State, Prince Afegbua, at the High Court of the Federal Capital
Territory for alleged libellous publications against his
person.

In the writ of summons which was filed by Emeka Etiaba (SAN),
Secondus alleged that Afegbua made allegations claiming that he
misappropriated money to the tune of N10bn which belonged to the
PDP.

Also joined in the suit are the Media Trust Limited and the Sun
Publishing Limited who were alleged to have published the
statement.

Secondus is praying the court for a declaration that Afegbua had
failed to prove that the N10bn was proceeds of sale of nomination
forms and that the claim was false and malicious.

Secondus demanded N5bn “being general damages for the
humiliation, castigation, vilification, attack of the claimant’s
integrity and person by the defamatory publications.”

He also prayed for an order directing the defendants to publish
a written apology in the news and social media, including the Daily
Sun Newspaper, Daily Trust Newspaper, ThisDay Newspaper, The PUNCH
Newspaper, The Guardian Newspaper, Pilot, New Telegraph, Nigerian
Television Authority, African Independent Television, The Nation
and Channels Television among others.

He also prayed the court to make an order restraining the
defendants from making more defamatory publications against
him.

Secondus alleged that the said publication had affected his
right standing in the society as prominent members of the party and
members of the society across the world have read it.

“An Order of Perpetual Injunction restraining the Defendants,
their agents and privies from further making the defamatory
publications against the Claimant.

“Damages for the sum of N5,000,000,000.00 (Five Billion Naira)
only, being general damages for the humiliation, castigation,
vilification, attack of the Claimant’s integrity and person by the
defamatory publications.

“Prince Secondus further claims that the publications are false
and the said publications which the 1st Defendant knows to be false
have brought him to odium and have seriously challenged his right
standing in the society as a trustworthy character.

“Prince Secondus also noted that the libelous publications have
been read by prominent members of the Peoples Democratic Party,
members of the Public (both Nigerians and non-Nigerians) as they
were published in several news and social media such as Facebook,
Twitter, Instagram and others operating both in Nigeria and in the
whole world.”

Secondus said the publications were read by his pastors,
governors, senators, lawmakers, commissioners, prominent members of
his party and have portrayed his personality in bad light.