A member of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Comrade Augustine Ebi Okporu has threatened a 100 million Naira lawsuit against Fisayo Soyombo, a co-founder of the Freedom for Investigative Journalism (FIJ) for tagging him as a member of Amama Boys.
Referring to a publication dated September 14, 2024, Okporu demanded Soyombo’s unreserved apology for tagging him as a member of the Amama Boys who allegedly caused mayhem in Abuloma during the IYC Eastern Zone election penultimate weekend.
In a letter through his counsel, Ebibenabo Kenneth Okorodas Esq, Okporu issued a 48-hour ultimatum for Soyombo to retract the report against him and render an apology or face the lawsuit.
The letter reads;
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LETTER OF UNRESERVED PUBLIC APOLOGY ON YOUR LIBELLOUS PUBLICATION DATED THE 15TH SEPTEMBER 2024 AGAINST MR. OKPORU AUGUSTINE EBI TO WIT: “VOTER’S CARD BELONGING TO ONE OF THE AMAMA BOYS
We Act as Solicitors to Mr. Okporu Ebi Augustine of Mechanic Road, Niger Cat, Ekpan, Warri, Delta State. We shall hereinafter referred to him as “Our Client”. We write you upon his firm instructions in respect of the above subject matter. Our Client briefed us as follows:
1. That Our Client is a member of the Ijaw Youth Council (lYC) and resides at Warri in Delta State. As a member, Our Client was one time Assistant Secretary of the IYC Wastern Zone and one time National Eleco Member of the said IYC that conducted the 2023 National Elections which brought in the Jonathan Lokpobiri SNR led leadership.
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2. That in line with the aged long practice of the IYC, the Eastern Zonal Election was slated for the 14th of September, 2024 and on the said date Our Client together with other members of the IYC were invited as observers in the said elections and same was held at Abuloma Community in Rivers State.
That while the election process was ongoing hoodlums invaded the venue of the election and started shooting
gunshots sporadically which prompted everyone including Our Client to run for safety.
3. That Our Client before going into the election venue had kept his travelling bag containing his Permanent Voter’s Card, Clothes and Other Valuable Items inside the trunk of the vehicle (Toyota Corolla) that conveyed Our Client and others to the election venue at Abuloma.
Sadly, the said incident led to the death of Ijaw youths and Our Client only narrowly escaped death.
4. That few hours after the said incident, Our Client and others were assisted by resident of the community who led them out of the Community and Our Client was without access to his belongings (bag) due to the incidence.
That it was when Our Client got to Port Harcourt that it was confirmed to him that the said vehicle that conveyed him and others was vandalized and his bag (items) stolen and a photograph of the vandalized vehicle was therefore sent to Our Client.
5. That Our Client who is very worried over stealing of his bag particularly his Voters Card which carries his identity and same could possibly be used to commit identity theft only saw with surprise your online publication dated the 15th of September, 2024 wherein you displayed Our Client’s Voters Card with the capture “Voter’s Card Belonging To One Of The Amama Boys’ That by your publication you have you have exposed Our Client to dangerous attacks by rival groups and by implications he is one the persons that took part in carrying arms against ljaw people and by so doing was among those that was involved in the 14th September, 2024 shorting and killings.
6. We wish to inform you that Our Client is a Christian, responsibly married with Children, peace loving father and a man with a reputable a character that has never in his life time involved in armed dealing or struggle or belongs to any armed group. To say that Our Client is a member of “Amama Boys” is not just demeaning but a calculated act towards painting Our Client in a bad light before the general public.
It is on the strength of the above, that we have been further instructed by Our Client to demand the follows:
(a) That you cause an immediate UNRESERVED PUBLIC APOLOGIES through your media platform (FREEDOM FOR INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM) and two National Dailies, in one Radio Station in Rivers State and one in Delta State respectively.
(b) That you return Our Client’s missing bag including his Permanent Voters Card and other items therein. Should you fail to comply to Our Client’s demands within 48 hours upon the • service of this Notice on you, we have the instruction of Our Client to take further legal step against you and claim the sum of One Hundred Million (100, 000. 000. 00) only without further Notice.
Ebibenabo Kenneth Okorodas ESQ Pp:E.K. Okorodas & Co 07035257073
