Presidential candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for February 23 election, Atiku Abubakar, has demanded N500 million and a written apology from an aide to President Muhammadu Buhari on social media, Lauretta Onochie, for a controversial tweet.
Mrs Onochie had tweeted on May 7 saying: “Atiku on UAE watchlist- Security sources.”
She added: “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.”
Atiku’s lawyer, Mike Ozekhome, in a letter to Onochie said the former Vice-President found her tweet damaging to his reputation.
Atiku denied being on UAE’s watchlist and challenged Onochie to prove her allegation.
He threatened to sue Onochie for N2 billion and cyber bullying if she fails to meet his demands.
Part of the letter read: “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.”
Onochie was recently accused of posting fake pictures which she alluded to PDP saying that the party in one of its rallies before the election handed packages of food and money to attendees.
