Defamation: IBD Dende sues FIJ, Arise TV, Soyombo

..…Court gives 30-day ultimatum

A High Court in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, has asked for the appearance of Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ), Arise (TV) Media Group and Fisayo Soyombo, within 30 days, as defendants in a lawsuit filed by an Ogun State born Customs Licensed Agent, Chief Ibrahim Dende Egungbohun.

In the writ of summons number: G/2286/24 dated 3rd May, 2024, Chief Egungbohun popularly referred to as IBD Dende institutes the legal action against the trio for assassination of his personality through numerous tweets on their “X” handles as well as broadcast on the Arise Television’s special programme tagged, “The Morning Show” as aired on 24th of February, 2024.

Egungbohun seeks the Order of the FCT Court for retraction of the libelous statements and tendering of public apology by each of the Defendants, to be published by the 1st and 2nd Defendants on their X handles @fisayosoyombo and @fijnigeria and on the 2nd Defendant’s blog fij.ng, and to be published/broadcasted by all the Defendants in the 3rd Defendant’s Television programme “THE MORNING SHOW”.

He also seeks the Court for restraining the Defendants from any further defamatory publications (including the use of innuendos) on their X handles, website, TV programmes or any other means of publication.

Chief Egungbohun is asking the defendants to pay as general damages of a sum of ₦5,000,000,000.00 (Five Billion Naira) and the sum of N10,000,000.00 (Ten Million Naira) being the cost of instituting (the) Suit”.