From Godwin Tsa, Abuja
A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, has commenced hearing on a N5 billion libel suit filed by former Senator Yisa Braimoh (SYB) against three factional members of the Edo State chapter of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
The defendants in the suit marked FCT/HC/CV/1025/2022 are Omobumhe Bobmanuel Umaru (aka Jesus Army), Osilame Okuofu and Boniface Pascal Ugbome.
When the case came up for mention, the 1st and 3rd defendants were represented by Johnson Bolade while the 2nd defendant was neither in court or represented by counsel.
Following the development, Justice Idris Abubakar Kutigi sitting in Jabi division of the court, adjourned proceedings to October 27, 2022, for the claimant to settle the issue of service on the 2nd defendant.
Meanwhile, the judge has granted the request of the claimant for an accelerated trial of the defamation suit.
In a originating summons dated March 29, 2022 and filed by his counsel, Musa Isiaka, Senator Braimoh who represented Edo North Senatorial district at the 6th Senate, is seeking a perpetual restraining order against the defendants from further publishing defamatory words against him and members of his family.
He equally prayed the court for an order mandating the defendants to publish a public apology on the full pages of two widely recognized national dailies and on all the political platforms to which he and the defendants jointly belong.
Besides the sum of N5 billion damages, the former federal law maker and a top ranking member of the PDP in Edo State is pressing for N5 million against the defendants as cost of prosecuting the suit.
In his statement of claim, he averred that he and the defendants jointly belonged to several PDP social media political platforms including PDP Unity League Platform, a group with a membership strength of 200 people.
Notable members of the PDP Unity League platform include Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State, his deputy, Hon. Philip Shaibu, the Secretary to the Edo State Government(SSG), Barr. Osarodum Ozie, Sen. Ehegieuzamere, Sen. Victor Oyofo, Rt. Hon. Tunde Akogun, High Chief Raymond Dokpesi, Chief Dan Orbih, Sen.R.S. Owie, Chief Mike Oghiadomeh and Chief Lucky Igbenodion among several others.
Read also: Acting CJN faces Senate screening Wed
He told the court that the 1st defendant, Omobumhe Umoru, who is a registered member of the PDP Unity League Platform, has arrogantly progressed without restraint, in his constant and unprovoked attacks on his person and his family and has caused irremediable reputational damages to him and his family.
Whereas the 1st defendant is a registered member of several PDP social media platforms including PDP Unity League platform, the 2nd defendant is the Chief Administrative Officer of the PDP Unity League platform, while the 3rd defendant is the forum/platform Chairman of the group, respectively.
In addition, he stated that the 2nd and 3rd defendants possessed the powers to determine who is added and removed from the platform including carrying out disciplinary powers against erring members of the platform.
Specifically, he said Umoru (1st defendant) had on January 15, 2022 published some offensive and defamatory words against him and his family, on the PDP Unity League platform as follows:
“God bless you my brother. Senator Yisa Braimoh should have pushed for a refined and better option, this daughter of his is too loose to occupy the office she is gifted with. Obaseki is a promoter of cluelessness, anyway what do you expect.
“And that mumu doing the commentary is talking about English, when has talking through the nose, become a mystery of the use of English diction, olodo.
“I heard her shouting ‘Sen. Yisa Braimoh’s daughter’ who cares who her father is, what can you remember Sen. Yisa Braimoh for, aside wearing his cap crested with bold ‘B’ and sleeping during plenary? I do not know why this poor minds always have clappers.”
In addition to the above, the claimant stated that the 1st defendant had about 2: 14pm of February 9, 2022, further published on the PDP Unity League platform that:
“Daddy, I am not fighting him sir. He is my big brother, I am only calling him to order sir. I have said many things against Sen. Yisa Braimoh that I know to be 100 percent true. I can not come back here and undo them for any amount of money. It will never happen sir.”
Furthermore, the claimant averred that on Thursday February 10, 2022, the 1st defendant at 22: 34 pm, again further stated that:
“We even try to joke over the matter and oga at the top changed the narrative. I am not afraid to appear in any court to defend whatever I have said or written in the past and even the ones I will do in the future. I’ve been to the court severally and I’ll still go there and come back victorious.”
Braimoh, who is a renowned politician with very robust professional career and political experience, told the court that the 1st defendant ceases every opportunity to malign and disrepute him with very uncomplimentary qualifications.
Besides, the claimant, who is a recipient of several awards and chieftaincy titles including the Sarki Muslimi of Afemai Land, and the Osiozokhai of Auchi Kingdom said the above defamatory words portrayed him as a scandalous and corrupt person, incompetent, inefficient and incapable of executing the legislative duties he was elected for.
He added that the libelous publication has further presented him to the right thinking members of the public as an irresponsible father who failed to carry out his paternal responsibilities.
That his daughter referred to as unrefined and loose by the 1st defendant, is a 1993 graduate of Economics(BA.Hons) from Wolverhampton University, UK, holder of Masters Degree in Strategy and Marketing from University of Middlesex, Uk, and Masters Degree in Applied and Strategic Project Management from Villanora University, USA (2009).
He informed the court that the disparaging and libelous statements of the 1st defendant have diminished his political goodwill and have seriously, emotionally and psychologically traumatised him.
The former member of the Nigerian National Conference (CONFAB 2014) added that following the widespread of the above uncharitable comments against him by the defendants, a lot of his political supporters have lost faith in him and his political ideology.
That since the defamatory publications, he has been inundated with calls from within and outside Nigeria and has spent a lot of time labouring to defend his very battered political image.