N1.5bn Suit: ThisDay Dragged To Court By Senior Lawyer Over Alleged Defamatory Statements

Mr. Adekunle Babatunde Ogunba, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) has dragged This Day newspaper and its editor, Onikepo Braithwaite, before a Lagos State High Court over alleged defamatory statement made against his person and characters.

Ogunba in his suit marked: LD/5358CMW/2025, accused This Day newspaper and its editor of making against him in its publication of 19th August 2025, titled “Kepco, Ogunba and Jankara Tactics” which was published in print, and online (https//www.thisdaylive.com./20250819/kepco-ogunba-san- Jankara-tactics/).

The said publication, according to the Senior lawyer, has made him to suffered continuous and irreparable harm to his personality, professional and personal reputations, as well as considerable distress and embarrassment.

He so claimed that the said publication has also caused him lost of goodwill in the face of the general public and to all those who held him in high esteem.

Consequently, the senior lawyer is asking the court for the followings: “A declaration that the Defendants’ publication via This Day newspaper of 19th August 2025, titled “Kepco, Ogunba and Jankara Tactics” which was published in print, and online (https//www.thisdaylive.com./20250819/kepco-ogunba-san- Jankara-tactics/) and has since gained wide traction across various social media platforms, reaching millions of readers across the globe, is false, malicious, libelous and defamatory and has thrown the Claimant into odium, public ridicule, discredited and damaged the Claimant’s reputation in the eyes of distinguished legal practitioners, judges and the general reading public.

“An order mandating the Defendants to publish a written public apology via the same medium in which the defamatory publication was made and in at least four (4) national newspapers, with coverage across all geopolitical zones in Nigeria, which shall also contain a clear and unequivocal undertaking not to issue or publish any further false statements concerning the Claimant.

“A mandatory injunction against the defendants directing the Defendants to Cease and Desist forthwith from making any further unfounded, untrue and malicious statements about the Claimant In any form or medium, including on social media platforms.

“General damages for defamation in the sum of N1, 000, 000, 000.00 (One Billion Naira) for injury suffered by the claimant against the defendants as a result of the defendants’ publication.

“Punitive or exemplary damages in the sum of N500, 000, 000.00 (Five Hundred Million Naira) for recklessness, carelessness and gross negligent conduct exhibited by the Defendants in publishing false information. And Cost of this action.”

Ogunba SAN supported the writ of summons with a 36 paragraphs statement of claims, wherein he chronicled in detail how the defendants made defamatory statements about him.

Meanwhile, at the hearing of the matter on Monday, before the court presided by Justice Rosul Olukolu, the senior lawyer was represented by U. D. Ogbonna with B.R. Kreni, while there was no legal representation for the defendants.

Ogbonna informed the Court that the matter was coming up for the first time and that the applicant has been unable to effect service on the 2nd defendant. He therefore inform the of an Ex-parte application, to that effect.

Ogbonna also drew the Court’s attention to an application dated November 20, 2025, seeking for leave of Court to effect service of our originating processes via substituted means on the 2nd Defendant.

With the permission of the Court, the moved the said application.

In view of the foregoing, the Court granted relief “1a” and “1b” jointly, and ordered proof of service to be evidenced in an affidavit of service.

The Court, however, refused the order sought in prayer two to deem the processes as duly served.

Thereafter, Justice Olukolu adjourned the matter to January 19, 2025, for report of service.