A former Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Theophilus Danjuma (rtd), has slammed N1bn suit against Pastor Paul Rika of the Holiness Revival Ministry Worldwide, for allegedly defaming him in a book he authored.
Danjuma, through his counsel, Tayo Oyetibo (SAN), gave the preacher seven days to withdraw the defamatory statements contained in the book: ‘God’s Message To Kuteb Tribe And Indigenes Of Taraba State’.
Danjuma complained that some pages in the book impugned his character, ridiculed him and jeopardised his business interest.
He said several heinous allegations were made against him, particularly in pages 9, 13, 14, I5, 16, 17, 18, 20, 21, 22, 23, 25, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 38, 39, 40, 4 I, 42, 56, 58, 59, 6I, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 76, 83, 84, 85, 86, 90, 9I and 94.
The counsel said that the content impugned Danjuma’s good reputation, demonised him, and portrayed him as a wicked, mischievous, evil, and anti-democratic person.
He added that the statements contained in the book were reckless, ill-advised, and highly defamatory of his client and showed no respect to his hard-earned reputation in Taraba State and Nigeria at large.
“The defamatory statements which you published of, and concerning our client have caused him great discomfort, embarrassment, and annoyance, and lowered him in the estimation of right-thinking members of the public who have read the book. Since the publication, he has been inundated with calls and other contacts from several people and leaders within and outside Nigeria, who read the book and are disturbed and disappointed.
“Our client, being a revered octogenarian who has dedicated his life to the service of humanity is greatly distressed by your defamatory publication because, his reputation built by a labour of many decades, has been assaulted and jolted by your insensitive, malicious, and contemptuous false publication.
“Accordingly, our client has instructed us to commence legal proceedings against you and the Holiness Revival Ministry Worldwide [as defendants] to seek appropriate judicial remedies,” the letter added.
The lawyers said the remedies include the defendant to within 90 days print, publish, and distribute a second edition of the book and apologise to Danjuma for all the false statements published concerning him in the first edition.
Also pay general damages in the sum of NI billion for the defamatory statements. He however gave the Reverend a seven days option for settlement.
Danjuma also demanded for a written undertaking that the author would within 90 days “print, publish, and distribute a second edition of the book retracting all those libelous statements”.
