Buhari’s aide, Lauretta Onochie in trouble as Atiku threatens N2b libel suit

ABUJA, Nigeria – Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has written to the Special Adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari on New Media, Mrs. Lauretta Onochie demanding the sum of N500 million as minimal damage for circulating lies about him on the social media.

In a letter addressed to Onochie, signed by Chief Mike Ozekhome, lawyer to Atiku Abubakar, the PDP presidential candidate attacked Onochie’s for posting his photograph on tweeter with the caption that security operatives in the United Arab Emirates are keeping close tab on Atiku Abubakar.

“Security operatives in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are keeping a close tab on a former Nigerian Vice Pres Atiku Abubakar who has been in the Middle East nation for several weeks now What is he doing there?”, she tweeted.

Atiku said he will sue Onochie for N2 billion for cyber bullying if she fails to pay the sum of N500 million as minimal damages for her battered image.

“We have our client’s instructions to demand and we hereby demand from you the following: That you publish and tender a written retraction and apology for the said libellous publication in six national dailies circulating in Nigeria and one international daily as well as on all social media platforms wherein the said publication was made.

“That you pay to our client through the firm, the sum of N500,000,000 only, representing minimal damages to assuage his already battered image wholly caused by your said defamatory publication.

“Take notice that if you fail or refuse to accede to our modest demands within the next 48 hours from the date of this letter, we shall be compelled to activate the full weight of the legal machinery against you without any further recourse to you.

“We shall be, in such a suit, claiming against you the sum of N2bn, representing exemplary aggravated and punitive damages”, he said