Barely hours after Sahara Reporters published a report that the special assistant to President Goodluck Jonathan on new media, Reno Omokri, together with some armed thugs burgled a house in Bendel Estate, Warri, Omokri’s lawyer has threatened a libel suit against the online media platform.
The report published by Sahara Reporters on February 14, 2015, Saturday, had claimed that Omokri and his alleged thugs had during the burglary carted away the sum of N25million which was meant for a pro-Jonathan support group allegedly to buy votes for the president during the upcoming presidential election on March 28.
A copy of the letter sent to Naij.com by Omokri’s lawyer, Iyoke Michael, stated that the report was completely false and that Sahara Reporters did not investigate the facts before libelling Omokri.
It also stated that Omokri did not lead armed men to a residence in Warri or any other place, adding that the last time Omokri visited Warri was in December of 2012.
The letter also stated that on Tuesday, February 10, 2015, when Sahara Reporters alleged that Omokri led a burglary in Warri, he was at his office in Asokoro, Abuja, in the company of witnesses and received visitors.
Omokri also performed pastoral duties to members of a congregation of a local church of which he is a pastor, the lawyer stated in the letter.
Reno Omokri.
The lawyer concluded by stating: “Please be advised that we demand that you publish an apology within 3 Business Days or my client will institute libel proceedings against you in New York State from where you operate to clear his name of the false allegations you made against him on your site.”
Below is the full text of the letter:
I refer to your story about my client entitled ‘Jonathan’s Aide, Omokri Burglarizes House in Delta, Carts Away N25, Million Meant For Buying Votes’ and do state that your story is completely false and that you did not investigate the facts before libelling my client, Mr. Reno Omokri.
Be it known to you that Mr. Omokri did not lead armed men to a residence in Warri or any other place. The last time my client visited Warri was in December of 2012.
My client has been in Abuja for the past one week. On Tuesday the 10th of February 2015 when you falsely alleged that my client led armed men to burglarize a property in Warri, my client was at his office in Asokoro in the company of witnesses and received visitors, he also performed pastoral duties to members of the congregation of a local church over which he is a pastor.
In the weeks before then my clients had either been in Abuja or out of the country ministering and attending to his family. At no time in the last two years has my client travelled to Warri, a fact which is provable.
Therefore, we are at a loss as to how you came about your story that my client led armed men to burglarize a property in Warri. Your website may be a soft sell medium, but that does not take away your responsibility to cross check facts via investigation before going to press.
Please be advised that we demand that you publish an apology within 3 Business Days or my client will institute libel proceedings against you in New York State from where you operate to clear his name of the false allegations you made against him on your site.
Iyoke Michael Esq.
(Principal Partner)
(Principal Partner)
Iyoke & Co.
Address: 103 new Lagos Road, Benin City, Edo State.
Address: 103 new Lagos Road, Benin City, Edo State.
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