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The Chief of Staff to the President and former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, has issued a “cease and desist” notice to Mr. Segun Olatunji, Editor of FirstNews, over allegedly “false and malicious defamatory” articles published by him or published off his interview with a news platform.

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Gbajabiamila, in two letters dated May 3, 2024, by his solicitors Dr. Kemi Pinheiro SAN of Pinheiro LP, alerted the public to a “series of deliberate and coordinated malicious campaign of calumny against his person in various print, electronic and social media platforms.”

The Chief of Staff demanded a public apology from Olatunji and First News and a retraction of the allegedly false and malicious defamatory articles within seven days.

He also warned persons already hosting the said publications on their platforms or considering repeating the publications, of the legal implications of doing so, including civil and criminal proceedings under the cybercrime laws, among others.

The letter to Olatunji reads in part: “Our client’s attention has been drawn to the series of deliberate and coordinated malicious campaigns of calumny against his person in various print, electronic media and social media platforms arising from your article published on the 28th day of January 2024 (republished on the 6th of April, 2024) and interview you granted to the same online media platform Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ) on the 4th day of April, 2024 in relation to your arrest and detention by the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA).

“By the said article and interview you falsely and maliciously published of and concerning our Client defamatory words, wherein he was either expressly or by innuendo portrayed as a fraudulent, corrupt, dishonest, shady, unreliable and disloyal person who is unfit to hold the exalted office of Chief of Staff to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

The letter demanded that Olatunji, “within 7 days of receipt of this letter, cause to be published in two national newspapers a full page unequivocal public retraction and apology in terms to be approved by our firm; and in this regard we expect you to revert to us within 3 days of receipt of this letter. You shall also be expected to circulate the retraction and apology on the same platforms wherein your article and interview were circulated.”

It warned that unless Olatunji responds satisfactorily, Pinheiro LP would seek exemplary and aggravated damages for libel, an injunction restraining him from further or similar publications, “an order for retraction of the defamatory words and a public apology in the terms and manners to be stipulated by us and published in at least two national dailies.”

Furthermore, the law firm advised the “unsuspecting members of the public who are already indulged or may be tempted to indulge in the dissemination of these obviously false and defamatory contents to immediately cease and desist from sharing, posting, forwarding, or disseminating the said contents or otherwise engage in cyberstalking of our client, premised on the defamatory words contained in the aforementioned interview and article….

“Unless this warning is heeded, our client will not hesitate to ensure that such perpetrators face the wrath of the law as provided for under Section 24 of the Cybercrime Prohibition and Prevention Act 2015, Sections 375 and 376 of the Criminal Code, and Sections 391, 392, 393, 394, and 395 of the Penal Code as well as a civil action in defamation.”

 

Business

Nigeria projected among top-five world’s biggest economies

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Nigeria has been projected to be among the top five biggest economies in the world by 2075.

The Spectator Index disclosed in a post on Friday, quoting a Goldman Sachs’ document titled ‘The Path to 2075—Slower global growth, but convergence remains intact’.

According to the news platform, Nigeria’s economy is estimated to reach $13.1 trillion by 2075.

The report showed that Nigeria followed China ($57 trillion), India ($52.5 trillion), the United States of America ($51.5 trillion), and Indonesia ($13.7 trillion) in projected world’s biggest economies by 2075.

Data from the National Bureau of Statistics showed that Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product grew by 3.84 percent in the fourth quarter of 2024. The country’s GDP is estimated to be $568 billion at the end of 2024 in real GDP terms.

Africa’s most populous nation is expected to reach a GDP estimate that could be $585.9 billion.

The development comes as the President Bola Tinubu administration projects a $1 trillion economy by 2030.

Meanwhile, financial analysts had expressed doubts over the possibility of Nigeria achieving a $1 trillion economy by 2030 when the country’s projected GDP growth rate is 3.2 percent.

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Ex-Imo Gov Ohakim, IGP, others win fundamental rights suit by Amuchinwa

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Justice Binta Mohammed of the High Court of the Federal Capital has dismissed a fundamental rights suit filed by one Lady Chinyere Lilian Amuchinwa on 4th May 202, against six parties, including former governor of Imo State, Ikedi Ohakim and the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun.

The suit stemmed from Lady Amechinwa’s claims that Ohakim and another party instigated the police to detain her at the Force Headquarters in Abuja in July 2021 over what was not stated in the suit.

Recall that the claim is not unconnected with public accusations made by Lady Amuchinwa against Dr Ohakim which were later found to be unsubstantiated and Ohakim was exonerated.

In their reply to the suit, Ohakim, the IGP and the others challenged the suit as devoid of cause of action and an abuse of the process of the court, the suit having been filed after other similar suits were being pursued elsewhere by Lady Amuchinwa against Dr Ohakim.

The suits included a fundamental rights suit in Imo High Court Owerri, an appeal at Owerri Division of court of appeal court and charges filed at Federal High Court, Abuja, all of which the court noted were either dismissed or struck out against Lady Amuchinwa.

In the full judgment, Justice Mohammed held that “From the unchallenged and uncontroverted evidence in this suit, it is established that the Applicant/Respondent, has commenced a multiplicity of action involving the same set of fact and the same persons therefore constituting an abuse of the judicial process.

“Therefore this issue is resolved in favour of the 1st 3rd and 4th Applicant/respondent as well as the 5th Respondents/Applicants.”

“In conclusion the preliminary objection of the 1st 3rd 4th and 5th Respondents/Applicant succeeded accordingly, the suit filed by the Applicant/Respondent for Enforcement of Fundamental Right on 4/5/22 is hereby dismissed.

“The Applicant has failed to establish a cause of action against the 6th Respondent as nothing remotely connects him to the suit of the Applicant, his name is accordingly struck out from the suit.

“There will no need to consider and determine the Applicant suit the preliminary objections to the suit having succeeded and the suit dismissed.”

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‘Great vacuum’ – Kebbi governor, Idris mourns Dantata

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The Governor of Kebbi State, Dr. Nasir Idris, has expressed deep sorrow over the death of renowned businessman and community leader, Alhaji Aminu Alhassan Dantata, describing his passing as a monumental loss to the nation.

Dantata reportedly died on Friday night in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, after a brief illness.

In a statement issued on Saturday, Governor Idris said he received the news of Dantata’s death with profound grief and sadness, noting that Nigeria has lost a rare figure whose life was dedicated to economic development and humanitarian service.

“Alhaji Aminu Dantata was a true icon whose kind is rarely seen. He committed his life to building our economy and uplifting humanity through selfless service. His passing has left a great vacuum that will be difficult to fill,” the governor said.

Governor Idris offered prayers for the late elder statesman, asking Almighty Allah to forgive his shortcomings, grant him mercy, and admit him into Aljannah Firdaus.

He extended heartfelt condolences to the Dantata family, the people of Kano State, and all Nigerians mourning the loss, urging them to draw inspiration from the exemplary life the late businessman lived.

The governor also called on citizens to continue praying for the deceased, and to reflect on his legacy as a reminder of the value of service, humility, and commitment to humanity.

“May Allah forgive him and make his grave a garden from the gardens of Paradise. Ameen,” he added.

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