Lawmaker slams N2bn libel suit on former Road Safety chief, Osita Chidoka 

 

BY OUR EDITOR

A federal lawmaker, Hon. Ifeanyichukwu Anthony Ibezi, representing Idemili North and South Federal Constituency at the National Assembly, has slammed a N2 billion libel suit on Chief Osita Chidoka, former Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and former Minister of Aviation.

In the suit which was filed at the Anambra State High Court, Ogidi, Hon. Ibezi said he was suing Osita Chidoka for the publication of “defamatory words” uttered against him by one Hon. Obinna Chidoka, on one hand and for the “defamatory statements” he (Osita) made against him, on another; both of which statements were contained in a single video published by Osita.

Ibezi averred in his statement of claim that at about 6:15 pm on March 9, 2019, the day a supplementary election was held in Obosi to determine a clear winner, Chidoka in company of his brother, Hon. Obinna Chidoka and before a large crowd at the palace ground of Eze Chidubem Iweka II, the traditional ruler of Obosi, made defamatory statements against him.

In the video which Osita Chidoka published on his Facebook page, Hon. Obinna Chidoka was the first to speak to the crowd. He spoke in a combination of Igbo and English languages thus: “Ifeanyi na ndi otu ya na-ebu egbe …. even mua bu a target. Oburu na oburo onye police m, tata ha ka igba mu egbe.” The English translation is thus: “Ifeanyi and his group carry guns…even I was the target. If not for my police guard, today I would have been shot”.

Hon. Ibezi claimed that these words by Hon. Obinna Chidoka in their ordinary and natural meaning implied that he was always going around with gun, ready to kill anyone that stood on his way and that he was an uncivilized bloodthirsty brute that resorted to bloodletting to have his ways.

In the same video, Chief Osita Chidoka also spoke to the large audience in the following words: “Young people in their prime cannot be gunned down because of an election to the House of Representatives seat.  Ifeanyi Ibezi is a criminal and he must be arrested and dealt with like a criminal. Ifeanyi Ibezi is a murderer and the whole world must know that he is a murderer; we will not accept this in our place… Ifeanyi Ibezi aided by APGA, came to Obosi to kill two boys in Obosi. The two boys are dead. Ifeanyi Ibezi came with thugs to Obosi and carted away materials shooting at Obosi people.”

In their ordinary and natural meaning, Hon. Ibezi claimed that the words were understood to have defamatory imputations that he was “a criminal, a murderer and that he killed the two boys referred to.”

Chief Osita Chidoka’s Facebook page, Hon. Ibezi said, “is open to the public and enjoys high traffic” and as at the time of publication of the offending video, Osita Chidoka had about 23,033 followers on Facebook.

On March 10, 2019, Hon. Ibezi claimed he was “dismayed” when he watched the offending video and saw that the video had been viewed for about 65,000 times by Facebook users and shared about 1,000 times.

He claimed that his anxiety increased when he “saw and read the comments that trailed the video which at that time had more than 200 comments and the comments kept tumbling in”.

He said he was further shocked when he checked his phone and saw several missed calls from friends and family members who expressed shock at the accusations made by Osita Chidoka. He said he returned some of the calls and that his denials and explanations were rebuffed by some of the callers as they bluntly told him to clear himself and ended the call.

Consequently, the first term lawmaker said he was seeking N2 billion in damages; an order mandating Osita Chidoka to render a public apology to be published in two national dailies; an order mandating the defendant to make a video showing that the defamatory statements he made on March 9, 2019 were false and such video made should within 14 days after delivery of judgment be delivered to the plaintiff.

In addition to a refund of N15 million, being the cost of litigation, Hon. Ibezi is also asking for an order restraining Osita Chidoka, “by himself or through his agents, servants or privies from publishing or further publishing the offending speech(es), releases or videos either on Facebook or any other media whether social, print or otherwise.” No date has been fixed for hearing of the suit.