TY Danjuma sues Taraba pastor N1bn for defamation
A former Chief of Army Staff, Gen. Theophilus Danjuma (retd.) has filed a defamation lawsuit seeking damages of ₦1 billion against a senior pastor of the Holiness Revival Ministry Worldwide, Pastor Paul Rika.
The legal action stems from allegations made by the pastor in his book, titled “God’s Message To Kuteb Tribe And Indigenes Of Taraba State.”
The legal representative of Danjuma, Tayo Oyetibo (SAN),demanded that Pastor Rika retract the defamatory statements within seven days.
According to the memorandum, Danjuma stated that he became aware of the book through several mentees who purchased and read it.
Expressing his dismay, the retired general claimed that various pages of the book, tarnished his reputation and caused him ridicule among his peers, jeopardizing both his national and international business dealings.
The letter read, “Our client’s attention was drawn to a Book titled: “God’s Message to Kuteb Tribe and Indigenes of Taraba State” (the Book), written by Pastor Paul Rika and published by HOREMOW Printing Press, which was availed to him through some of his mentees who had purchased the book and read it.
“Upon receiving a copy of the book, to his utter dismay, he discovered several heinous allegations made against him. The contents of the book particularly at 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, impugn our client’s good reputation, demonize him, and portray him as a wicked, mischievous, evil, and anti-democratic person.
“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 of 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.”
Danjuma highlighted the emotional toll the publication has taken on him, causing significant discomfort and distress, and leading to numerous calls from individuals concerned about the allegations.
Danjuma’s lawyers, as part of the legal action, are seeking several remedies, including a requirement for Pastor Rika to print, publish, and distribute a second edition of the book within 90 days that retracts all defamatory statements, along with an apology.
They are also pursuing general damages amounting to ₦1,000,000,000.00 for the harm caused by the published statements, with a settlement option requested within seven days.
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