A legal firm, Martin Omo-Ighekpe and co. has on behalf of Emperor Jarret Tenebe, the Chairman of the Edo State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress(APC) and the state Governor-Elect Senator Monday Okpebholo, given the management of Arise TV Channel a seven days ultimatum to apologise to them for misrepresenting them in one of the channels programmes recently.
According to the petitioners legal counsel, “It is our brief that our clients were on a campaign at Iguadolor Community in Ovia North East Local Government Area of Edo State on the 2nd of September, 2024; wherein a viral video was circulating therefrom in the social media, where Senator Monday Okpebholo the candidate of the APC in the September 21st, 2024 Gubernatorial Election was maliciously, falsely and libelously quoted thus: ‘We are going to provide you with insecurity.Â
“It is noted that your programmes including; ‘The Morning Show’ is aired in Nigeria, across Africa and some major cities of the World; where this falsehood was transmitted. It is sad to note that a media organization like yours; which you manage ought to know that in this day and age, statements can be doctored to undermine political opponents like in this case under reference.
“It is our brief that the malicious, false and libelous broadcast vide your T.V Station on that day and the extensive castigation against our Clients by your presenters in respect of the aforesaid viral video clip, is to say the least a radical departure from the essence of journalism and a total disregard to professionalism.
“We wonder what your aim could be; if not to paint our Clients as irresponsible and should not be voted for by the Edo People. It is interesting to note that the APC gubematorial candidate, is currently a distinguished Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and a man your presenters, portrayed as a person who is not fit to be elected to the exalted office of the Govemor of Edo State. We take serious reservation to this show of impunity aimed at undermining our Clients.”
Following from this, the law firm is demanding for “an immediate apology to our Clients in both the print and electronic media and the airing of a programme which should be centered on the need to verify information circulating in the social media.
“Finally, the payment of the sum of N5, 000, 000, 000.00 (Five Billion Naira) only representing the enormous damages for the malicious, false and libelous airing of a false, malicious and libelous viral video circulating in the social media, which was aired in your T.V Station and viewed across the World.”
Going further, the law firm stressed that “we shall provide you with our Clients’ account details for the payment of the above stated sum upon the fulfillment of the written apology in a full page of a National Newspaper and the airing of a programme aimed at educating Nigerians on the necd to be careful in accepting viral video clip circulating in the social media and the acknowledgment of the error of your organization against our Clients.”
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