Lagos APC Women Leader Demands Apology From Thisday Newspapers Over False, Malicious Libel

The Women Leader of the Lagos State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Hon. Jumoke Okoya-Thomas has demanded a written apology and retraction from Thisday Newspapers over a false and malicious publication against her by the newspaper in its publication of Sunday 6th January, 2019.

This was contained in a letter dated Monday January 7, 2019 written by the lawyers of Okoya-Thomas, GMO Legal, Solicitors, Advocates, Notaries located at Admiralty Way, Lekki Phase 1, Lekki, Lagos.

The letter, which was addressed to the Managing Director, Thisday Newspapers Limited, 25, Creek Road, Apapa Lagos, was entitled; "False and Malicious Libel of Omoba Olajumoke Okoya-Thomas-Letter Before Action."

The letter was signed by Mr. George M. Oguntade (SAN) and both the Editor of Thisday Newspapers, Mr. Bolaji Adebiyi and the writer of the story, Mr. Adebayo Adeoye were copied.

In the letter, the solicitors stated that Olajumoke Okoya-Thomas is a very notable, respected and prominent politician in Nigeria, who served as a member of the Federal House of Representatives from 2001 to 2011 and that she is currently the Women Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State, a position the legal counsels said puts her in the forefront of politics in Nigeria.

"The attention of our client has been drawn to a publication appearing at Page 62 of Thisday (The Sunday Newspaper) of Sunday 6th January, 2019 under the caption "About Jumoke Okoya-Thomas and Her Wild Lifestyle."

"By the publication, our client has been portrayed as a person who indulges in excess consumption of alcohol and acts irresponsibly publicly.

"The publication further portrays our client as a violent and aggressive person, who engages in scuffles and aggressive conduct. 

"Those allegations are manifestly false in their entirety to the knowledge of the author and were brazenly. 

"Its publication was calculated to injure the sterling reputation of our client in the eyes of right thinking members of the society, especially given her position as a prominent politician and role model," the counsels wrote.

They then demanded that Thisday Newspapers should write a written retraction of the publication in the newspaper within a period of 48 hours from the receipt of the letter.

It was also demanded that Thisday Newspapers should forward "a written apology to our client with respect to the publication within a period of 48 hours of receipt of this letter."

Okoya-Thomas also demanded, through her lawyers that the publication should "immediately cease and desist their unlawful defamation of our client and provide us with a prompt written assurance within 48 hours of receipt of this letter that you will cease from further defamation of our client."

The counsels however, advised that if the publication did not comply with the request contained in the letter, Okoya-Thomas would immediately proceed to court against the newspapers to seek inta alia declaratory and injunctive relief as well as monetary damages and costs.