A leading governorship aspirant in Abia State on the platform of the All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA Sir Chikwe Udensi has demanded a retraction, apology and payment of N5bn from online medium, The Whisperer News over what he called defamatory falsehood against him.
The online medium had on Monday, April 11 published a news story with the caption, “Abia Guber: Chikwe Udensi Set To Dump APGA For YPP‘ a publication Sir Udensi says is deliberately targeted at causing hate against him.
In a letter addressed to the publisher of the medium titled, “DEMAND FOR IMMEDIATE RETRACTION OF FALSE AND DEFAMATORY WORDS, TENDERING OF UNCONDITIONAL APOLOGY AND PROPOSAL FOR PAYMENT OF FIVE BILLION NAIRA DAMAGES” and signed by counsel to Sir Udensi, Kalu Kalu Agu Esq., he wondered why the media platform could not investigate the source of its story before publishing, describing it as a deliberate attempt to damage his character.
“Accordingly, it is without doubt that you chose your words intentionally knowing that they are false and defamatory in the extreme without engaging in investigative journalism to balance your reportage on the said issue. Already our client has been inundated with several derisive calls arising from the fact that your words have attracted spite, odium and hatred for him.
“Our client is currently, on account of your misguided defamatory publication, losing teeming support base, political structures in Abia state (which he spent hundreds of millions of naira to set up), finances as well as business associates who are now pulling out from him because of your defamatory publication. Every passing day, our client is losing hundreds of millions of Naira as a result of your action,” the letter read.
Sir Udensi also demands that the publishers of the alleged false news publish a widespread publication of the clarification for seven (7) consecutive days.
He warned that if this is not done within seven days, he will initiate legal action and claim exemplary and aggravated damages.