Nwobodo demands 20 billion Naira damages from Businessman, This day over alleged defamation
Former Anambra State Governor and ex-Minister of Sports, Senator Jim Nwobodo, has instituted a ₦20 billion defamation suit against Lagos-based businessman Basil Ogbuanu and five others over publications he alleges damaged his reputation.
Nwobodo, a former senator who represented Enugu East, filed the suit before an Enugu High Court, accusing the defendants of disseminating reports which, according to his pleadings, portrayed him in a false and damaging light.
ThisDay Newspapers is among the defendants, with Nwobodo alleging that the publication carried some of the reports at various times.
He is seeking, among other reliefs, a public apology and ₦20 billion in damages for what he described as serious injury to his reputation and psychological distress.
The dispute, according to the former governor's court documents, is linked to a longstanding disagreement over four plots of land, identified as Plots R/18–R/21, at Independence Layout, Enugu.
Nwobodo stated that the property formed part of an estate he acquired in 1976, three years before he became governor in 1979, and was subsequently sold to Ogbuanu, who allegedly obtained relevant documentation and took possession of the plots.
Nwobodo, however, alleged that the dispute escalated after Ogbuanu commenced development on the property before certain documentation and regulatory requirements concerning the estate had been completed.
He told the court that purchasers had been advised to wait until the necessary processes converting the existing lease arrangements to the applicable Certificate of Occupancy status were concluded.
According to him, Ogbuanu proceeded with the development despite the advice, after which structures allegedly erected on the property were demolished by government authorities.
The former governor maintained that he had no involvement in the demolition and argued that Ogbuanu should not hold him responsible for actions taken by the Enugu State Government or its agencies.
Nwobodo also denied ever preventing the businessman from taking possession of the property, stating that Ogbuanu had remained in possession of the plots purchased.
He further said he had never refused to refund the ₦235 million allegedly paid for the property, arguing that his willingness to make the refund contradicted any suggestion of fraudulent conduct.
The suit, filed by Nwobodo's lawyer, Chuma Oguejiofor, was accompanied by several documents, including affidavits, statements of claim and oath, a certificate of compliance and a list of witnesses.
Chris Utazi, an Enugu based lawyer, was identified as the principal witness. Nwobodo, 86, is asking the court to hold the defendants liable for the alleged publications and award damages for the harm he claims they caused to his name and reputation.
The defendants are expected to respond to the allegations in court, while the claims contained in the suit remain allegations and are yet to be established by the court.
A stronger alternative headline could be: “Nwobodo Drags Businessman, ThisDay to Court, Demands ₦20bn Over Alleged Defamation.”
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