OREDOLA ADEOLA
The United States (US) Embassy in Nigeria has denied those whose names appeared on the looters’ list released by the Federal Government, opportunity of obtaining the country’s visa, as part of efforts to work with the Nigerian government on fight against corruption.
A Chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Raymond Dokpesi,whose name appeared on the list was the first victim to be hammered by the sanction.
The Editorials gathered that the US Embassy on March 16, 2019, informed Chief Dokpesi that his visa to the country was revoked after his name was included in the looters’ list submitted to the Embassy by the Federal Government.
Consequently, the Daar Communication Chairman has sued Alh. Lai Mohammed, Minister of Information and Culture, who announced the list, seeking payment of N5billion damages for alleged defamation of character.
He claimed that the publication of his name as a looter was malicious, since he has not been convicted by any court of competent jurisdiction.
In a suit filed by his lawyer Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN), Chief Dokpesi prayed that the retraction and apology to him be published both in the social media and in newspaper and televisions stations.
He is also praying for an order compelling the defendants, including Attorney-General of the Federation Abubakar Malami (SAN), to publish a full retraction of the defamatory publications and to apologise to him.
Dokpesi is also praying for a perpetual injunction restraining the defendants or their agents from further making any defamatory publications against him, and N50million as cost of the action.
The publications, he said, have prejudiced his constitutionally guaranteed rights to presumption of innocence until proven guilty, and that his right to fair hearing as enshrined in the Constitution has been blatantly violated.
“The defendants’ defamatory publications are malicious and calculated to overreach and prejudice my fair trial and for purposes of stampeding and cowing the court to convict me at all cost by agreeing with the defendants’ skewed position,” the plaintiff said.
Dokpesi said on March 30, the defendants allegedly defamed him by publishing his name as treasury looter in a news conference on the basis that he is on trial for allegedly receiving N2.2billion from the office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).
No date has been fixed for hearing the suit filed on Monday before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory.
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