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Oshiomhole faced with imminent N10b judgment apologises to Ortom
BY KAZIE UKO
Former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole, has swallowed his pride and publicly apologised to Benue State governor, Samuel Ortom, for libelous statements he made nearly three years ago.
Oshiomhole, while still APC national chairman, during a media briefing had maliciously accused Ortom of worsening insecurity in Benue State and alluded to the fact that the governor had a hand in the murder of two Catholic priests.
The priests were killed alongside 17 parishioners by gunmen who attacked Ayar Mbalon village, Gwer East Local Government Area of Benue in April 2018.
“One of these Reverend Fathers in a church sermon was extremely critical of the governance in Benue and of the style of governance of Governor Ortom and his price obviously was that few weeks after this sermon he had to pay with his dear life,” Oshiomhole said while addressing the press on July 27, 2018.
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Oshiomhole’s diatribe did not sit well with Ortom who promptly sued the former Edo State governor to court, demanding N10 billion for libel and defamation of character.
While the case dragged on in the court, Oshiomhole sought for out of court settlement, culminating in his public apology, among other remedies.
In a full page ‘Retraction of Publication’ published in The Nation of Thursday, March 18, 2021, Oshiomhole, who had sworn that Ortom would not be returned a second term as governor of Benue State, wrote:
“On the 27th day of July, 2018 at the National Headquarters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and particularly in my capacity then as the Chairman of the Party, I addressed different National issues as well as some events which had occurred in Benue State, including the movement earlier that day of His Excellency, Dr Samuel Ortom (Executive Governor of Benue State) from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Peoples Democratic Party.
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“In the course of the press conference, I made certain comments about Dr. Ortom on the basis of information I have since found to be false and baseless.
“His Excellency Dr. Samuel Ortom felt embarrassed, defamed and deeply aggrieved by the comments I made at the said press conference, culminating in litigation.
“Owing to the relationship we share and in the larger interest of peace, harmony and brotherliness, I believe a complete and unequivocal retraction of my comments made on 27th July, 2018, and which Dr. Samuel Ortom found offensive is proper and necessary.
“In view of all the above, I hereby retract the comments made during the press conference on 27th July, 2018, as it relates to Dr. Samuel Ortom.”