ABUJA — The Chairman, Cubana Group of companies, Chief Obinna Iyiegbu, popularly known as Obi Cubana, has filed an N1 billion lawsuit against publishers of the Lagos-based newspaper, PM Express over a publication of defamatory information against him.
The suit which was filed at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) was dated and filed on Wednesday, April 27, 2022, by his lawyer, Afam Osigwe (SAN).
The suit marked, CV/1367/2022 seeks an order of perpetual injunction, restraining the defendants either by themselves, agents, third party, media outfits, etc from publishing, advertising, promoting, distributing, circulating and serializing the news article, which is the subject matter of the suit on the internet, social media, Facebook and other social platforms, containing allegations and insinuations that he is involved in drug trafficking.
The defendants in the suit are David Odey, Arinze Alinnor, Funsho Arogundade, Cyriacus Izulekwe, and Taiwo Adelu.
The billionaire businessman in the statement of claim accused the defendants of maliciously using his photograph in publishing a story in which the entire story as well as the reported court order has nothing to do with him.
According to him, the defendants had on Tuesday, April 26, published on their website, www.pmexpressng.com a story with the headline, Court Orders Banks to Freeze Suspected Drug Barons’ Accounts with his picture used as that of one of the two suspected drug barons, Basil Okafor Onochie and Okwuchukwu Edwin Izuchukwu, whose accounts were reportedly ordered frozen by Justice Tijjani Ringim in the suit filed by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
In supporting his suit of malice against the defendants he stated that inherent in the action of the defendants are the allegations and insinuations that he is a drug baron, whose accounts have been frozen by the court and that he is involved with or has committed a criminal act.
He noted that the defendants’ publication made using his picture was aimed at tarnishing his hard-earned reputation, built over the years so as to drive internet traffic to their website and social media platforms, gain public relevance and do maximum incalculable damage to his reputation, businesses, vocation and standing in the society.
The publication, he added, cast grave aspersion on his honour, reputation and integrity, and exposed him to hatred, contempt, ridicule and injury in his position, profession, endeavours and businesses.
Cubana, therefore, prayed the court to make an order directing the defendants, jointly and severally to pay him the sum of N1 billion as general damages for defamation of character, as well as damage to businesses, professional and financial credit.
He also prayed the court to make an order that interest in the above sum is calculated at the rate of 10 per cent from the date of judgment until the final liquidation of the judgment sum.
While he also prayed for an order directing the defendants to take down the alleged defamatory content against him on the internet and social media, he urged that the defendants tender a public apology in three different national newspapers.
The socialite further said he is not a drug baron but a reputable businessman with a verifiable interest in several sectors of the economy and warned that any attempt to rubbish his reputation will be challenged in the law court.
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