Defamation: Kannywood Actress Slams Defamation Suit Against Civil Servant

Kannywood actress Hadiza Aliyu, popularly known as Hadiza Gabon, has taken legal action against Bala Musa, a civil servant.  The lawsuit, filed in a Magistrates’ court on Daura Road, Kaduna, accuses Musa of defamation of character. Hadiza Gabon’s counsel, Mr. Mubarak Sani, stated that the actress had been subjected to negative reactions and comments from the public due to false allegations made by the defendant. These allegations included claims that she cheated Musa by accepting his money but refused to marry him, allegations that were proven false. Bala Musa, represented by his counsel, Mr. Naira Murtala, denied the allegations. The Chief Magistrate, Shamsudeen Sulaiman, inquired if the complainant’s counsel had witnesses, to which they responded affirmatively.  The Chief Magistrate granted bail to the accused under the condition that he must provide two reliable sureties who are residents of Kaduna State and civil servants. The case has been adjourned to November 15 to allow the complainant to present their witnesses. Bala Musa had previously filed a suit against Hadiza Aliyu in a Shari’a Court in March 2022, alleging that she had refused to marry him after he had given her N396,000.  Aliyu had denied any knowledge of Musa and stated that she had never met or spoken to him, disavowing any relationship with him. During the earlier case, it was revealed that four individuals were recipients of the money claimed to have been sent to the defendant.  Two of them, Fatima Abdullahi and Abdullahi Yusuf, confessed to impersonating the actress and receiving money in her name, pleading for forgiveness from the court. Following a request from Musa’s counsel to transfer the case to an Upper Sharia Court, the case was dismissed by Judge Isiyaku Abdulrahman on October 31, and Hadiza Aliyu was discharged. Additionally, the defendant’s counsel and client were ordered to pay N500,000 to the actress for wasting her time.

We Didn’t Request For N5bn Yacht- Presidency

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s spokesperson, Tope Ajayi, has clarified that the President did not request the N5 billion presidential yacht proposed by the Nigerian Navy. This statement comes in response to the public outrage following the revelation of the N2.1 trillion supplementary budget submitted by Tinubu to the National Assembly. The supplementary budget included an allocation of N5.09 billion for the yacht, N2.9 billion for sport utility vehicles for the Presidential Villa, and an additional N2.9 billion for the replacement of operational vehicles for the presidency. The yacht was listed as part of the Nigerian Navy’s proposed capital expenditure of N42.3 billion. Ajayi expressed doubts about whether President Tinubu actually needed a presidential yacht to perform the functions of his office, suggesting that the request for such an expenditure likely had operational reasons within the Navy. Furthermore, Ajayi highlighted the need for more accurate reporting and transparency in budget descriptions, emphasizing that budgetary provisions for the State House are often misconstrued, leading to misleading headlines. He urged for a better understanding of the purpose behind such budget items, which often encompass state events, meetings, hosting VIPs, foreign dignitaries, and more, rather than personal expenses for the President and Vice President.

Alleged $280m Libel: Ex-NNPC COO Ewubare Demands N2bn, Apology From Whistleblower

A former Chief Operating Officer of Joint Ventures and Business Development at the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Chief Roland Ewubare has demanded the payment of N2 billion damages from Mr George Uboh, for publishing a libelous and untrue story against him in his online platforms. Ewubare is demanding immediate retraction of the libelous story published online on 12th July 2023 and tender a full and unqualified apology (to be given a prominent place on the front page of seven widely read/circulated newspapers including his various platforms and on the internet to his client.  His counsel, Ojonimi S. Apeh Esq., in a pre-action notice dated July 13, 2023, and addressed to George Uboh, is demanding a solemn declaration from Uboh, never to libel his client (Ewubare) again through his platform or any other means.  Ewubare’s lawyer gave Uboh, not later than 7 days from the date of receipt of the notice to comply with the demands of his client or face prosecution.   Apeh stated that Uboh had through his online platform named as George Uboh TV (GUTV) and George Uboh Magazine, published and or disseminated a story to the world titled: “Re: Mele Kyari, Roland Ewubare, Belema Oil, Jack-Rich Tein, etc Involved In $280 USD Fraud Allegation”. The said story had alleged among other things that George Uboh Whistleblowers Network (GUWN) was availed of documents germane to illegal transfer of $280 million USD to Belema Oil producing Ltd tied to a phantom servicing of Oil Well OML 55.  However, Apeh stated that the allegations in the publication were “absolutely force, untrue, malicious, unfounded, wicked, mischievous, reckless, libelous and calculated to cause him to be shunned, avoided or exposed to hatred, ridicule, contempt, opprobrium before millions of Nigerian citizens and others worldwide and to convey an imputation on him, disparaging or injurious to his person, career and office as a responsible citizen”.  “Our client, Chief Roland Ewubare is a law abiding Nigerian and is an urbane, upright, incorruptible, transparent and well-mannered gentleman who had occupied several offices in the past wherein he led with strict adherence to the rule of law, accountability, prudence and deep sense of patriotism” Apeh stated.  The lawyer posited that by the content of the publication, particularly the allegations, insinuations and or innuendos contained therein or arising therefrom, Uboh had clearly portrayed his client as “corrupt, kleptomaniac, devious, inhumane, dubious, irresponsible, and somebody who uses his position to foster and perpetrate corruption and self-aggrandizement.  “All these you have deliberately done with the view to lowering our client in the estimation of right-thinking members of the society, nationally and internationally.  “It is clear that your story is not only untrue, but a well orchestrated plan to harmfully malign and hurtfully libel our client before members of the public and humiliate him.  “It is also clear that your story is a fabricated one considering that you could not provide any concrete fact or evidence to back your fictitious allegations which is within the limited purview of your imaginations. “Notwithstanding that the allegations contained in your publication are untrue and false; you have published them mala fides, with the intention to ridicule our client before the whole world and rubbish his hard-earned reputation for excellence and damage the good career and reputation he has built over several years.  “Be it known to you that our client is not a criminal.  Apeh stated that since the false and malicious story was published and has continued to appear online, Ewubare has been inundated with several calls and still continues to receive phone calls, messages and mails from the international community and top government officials in and outside Nigeria and several phone calls from his friends and associates all of whom have seen and read the bundle of lies as contained in the publication.  “Many of these personalities have indeed openly expressed serious concerns as to his alleged conducts as reported and or published by your organization, which allegations they claimed will definitely affect their continuous dealings with him. “As a result of your dastardly publication of this deliberate falsehood against our client, he has suffered and continues to suffer severe humiliation, mental and emotional anguish, pain and suffering. Apeh said the action of Uboh has not only caused his client unquantifiable damage, but also loss of good will and destruction of reputation.