» Buhari's Aide Sues Us-Based Blogger Over Facebook Post «

A civil rights activist and member of the Buhari Media
Support Group, Ms. Lauretta Onochie, has sued a blogger
and US-based lawyer, Emeka Ugwuoye, over a libellous
publication on Facebook.
The plaintiff, who is a volunteer in Buhari’s Support
Organisation, is demanding N1bn as damages as a result
of the publication, which she said did tremendous damage
to her reputation.
According to her,if the defendant is not restrained, he will
further publish injurious articles against her.
Onochie in the suit filed by her counsel, Festus Keyamo, at
the High Court in Abuja, and obtained by journalists on
Sunday, also demanded a retraction and an unreserved
apology from the defendant for the words he had used with
her photograph.
According to the court papers, no fewer than 163 persons
have ‘Liked’ the post, while over 80 people have ‘Shared’ it
with 198 ‘Comments.”
Ugwuoye had in the post entitled, “A major break in
tracking of the Dubai Madams and their agents – A key
Madam revealed as a socialite with apparent connections
to (sic) Nigerian politicians,” published on January 21
2016, in his Due Process Advocates Facebook page,
alleged that Onochie, using names like Aunty Lolly, Madam
or Aunty, operates an international girls trafficking ring
across the United Arab Emirates, Italy and Greece for
prostitution.
The plaintiff, therefore, asked the court for an order of
perpetual injunction restraining the defendant, whether by
himself, agents, privies or servants from further publishing
or causing to be published any libellous, injurious or
defamatory words against her.
In her statement of claims, the plaintiff, who is a
grandmother and a member of the All Progressives
Congress, averred that the defendant falsely and
maliciously described her as “an international human
trafficker who belongs to a powerful network of criminal
gangs and racketeers.”
While describing the allegations as false and untrue, she
added that the defendant did not conduct any investigation
before publishing them.