Edo APC demands apology over alleged libelous publication

The Edo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress has called on the Vanguard Newspaper to immediately retract a publication in its Tuesday edition, depicting some prominent members of the party as masterminds of the violence which claimed the life of a police officer, Akor Onuh, last Thursday in Benin.

Recall that the convoy of the reinstated Deputy Governor of the state, Philip Shaibu, and the All Progressives Congress governorship candidate, Senator Monday Okpebholo, was attacked by gunmen last Thursday, leading to the death of the police officer.

The incident has pitched the Peoples Democratic Party and the APC against each other, with both parties calling for a probe while fingering opposition members as those involved in the mayhem.

Solicitor to the APC, Martin Omo-lghekpe and Co., in a letter to the management of Vanguard newspaper said the publication was malicious, libellous and defamatory, and should be retracted within 24 hours of receipt of the letter.

The solicitor’s letter to Vanguard reads in part, “We are solicitors to the AIl Progressive Congress, Edo State chapter, (hereinafter refer to as our client), on whose behalf we write you this letter.’’

“It is our brief that our client’s attention was drawn to the libellous, defamatory and malicious publication on page 15 of your newspaper, wherein you described the aforesaid faces in the publication; ‘as published by Vanguard Newspaper today (Tuesday) all of them APC thugs’.

“It is our brief that you termed the photographs of the aforesaid gentlemen as ‘Edo State Airport Violence faces of suspected culprits.’

“We take serious reservation to your audacious, malicious, libellous and defamatory publication, which has no legal foundation, as the said publication is orchestrated to

malign the image of the All Progressive Congress, Edo State chapter, in the eyes of the general public as our client had written a comprehensive petition to the office of the Inspector General of Police, in respect of the incident at the Benin Airport on the 18th of July, 2024, with said petition is subject to police investigation.

“We are of the firm view that a newspaper of your standing, ought to maintain the highest ethical standard by the regulatory agencies.

“Flowing from the above, our client hereby demands the immediate retraction of the aforesaid malicious, libellous and defamatory publication within 24 hours of the receipt of this letter.

“Our client also demands a letter of apology within a full cover space of your newspaper.”

The solicitor said that failure to abide by the penultimate paragraphs, “will leave us with no option than to institute both criminal and civil action against the newspaper.”