He also warned against subsequent publication of the said report by any media platform.
The Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, Femi Gbajabiamila, has threatened to sue Mr Segun Olatunji, Editor of Lagos-based First News, after the latter had survived weeks of brutal detention by the Nigerian military.
Two separate letters dated May 3, 2024, which were written by Gbajabiamila’s lawyer, Dr. Kemi Pinheiro SAN of Pinheiro LP and obtained by SaharaReporters had accused Olatunji of making "false and malicious defamatory articles" against the former Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Gbajabiamila demanded for a public apology from Olatunji and First News and a retraction of the allegedly defamatory articles within seven days.
He also warned against subsequent publication of the said report by any media platform.
The letter read, “Our client's (Gbajabiamila) 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 also 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.
“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 Cybercrimes Prohibition and Prevention Act 2024 (As amended) and 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.”
Gunmen, who later turned out to be Nigerian military personnel, had kidnapped Olatunji when they invaded his residence at Iyana Odo, Abule Egba area of Lagos State, on March 15.
Segun Olatunji had recounted his ordeal at the hands of "military kidnappers", revealing that they were close to the government.
Narrating his experience, Olatunji had said that the military men first put him in a cell where they cuffed his legs and hands.
Speaking at a press briefing organised by the leaderships of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) and International Press Institute (IPI), the journalist had said he was in chains for about three days.
“At first, they put me in a cell. There I was left with leg and handcuffs. And at a point, one of the officers came and tightened the right leg and the right hand and I was there growing in pain," he narrated.
"And they didn’t loosen it until about two or three days after."
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