Sowore Files Blockbuster Defence In Libel Case Brought Against Him By Kayode Fayemi, Says Ex-Governor Is A Thief, Has No Reputation

Sowore Files Blockbuster Defence In Libel Case Brought Against Him By Kayode Fayemi, Says Ex-Governor Is A Thief, Has No Reputation

The defendants argue that Fayemi’s reputation is tarnished, and he has no grounds to claim libel.

Omoyele Sowore, the convener of #RevolutionNow, has filed a defence statement in response to a libel suit brought by former Ekiti State governor, John Olukayode Fayemi, against him and Sahara Reporters Limited.

The defence statement was filed at a Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja.

In a 47-paragraph defendants’ joint statement of defence in suit No: FCT/HC/CV 2062/2021 between Fayemi as Claimant and Mr. Omoyele Sowore (founder Chairman & Director Sahara Reporters Limited, Publishers of Sahara Reporters) and Sahara Reporters Limited as 1st and 2nd Defendants, Sowore tells the court that the Claimant is a thief who has no reputation.

In the statement of defence, Sowore asks the court to dismiss the suit with substantial costs, arguing that Fayemi has no reputation to protect. Sowore’s counsel, Tope Temokun Esq., submitted the statement on June 10, 2024, asserting that contrary to Fayemi’s claims of piety and incorruptibility, the people of Ekiti State and Nigeria have a different perception of him.

The defendants argue that Fayemi’s reputation is tarnished, and he has no grounds to claim libel.

The defendants pointed out that the claimant, John Olukayode Fayemi, was charged in January 2018 with financial impropriety offenses in the High Court of Ekiti State (Charge No: HAD/5c/2018 – The State Vs. Dr. John Kayode Fayemi and Mr. Vincent Dapo Kolawole).

The charges included refusing to obey a witness summons, attempting to prevent or defeat the course of justice, criminal contempt, and abuse of office.

Additionally, the defendants alleged that Fayemi secured a N20 billion loan from a bank to build an international cargo airport in Ado Ekiti, despite rejecting an offer from Aare Afe Babalola to contribute to the project, claiming that the state had sufficient funds to complete the airport. This contradicts Fayemi’s claims of uprightness and incorruptibility

The Defendants noted that the claimant was “indicted in the stealing the sum of N179, 979, 441.77 (One Hundred and Seventy-Nine Million, Nine Hundred Seventy-Nine Thousand, Four Hundred and Forty-One, Seventy-Seven Kobo) only being the outstanding sum from the Ekiti State Bond proceed sum of N335, 500, 000.00 released for the renovation of Ado Ekiti water marks, out of which only N155, 523, 58 was expended”.

Also according to the Defendants, the claimant was indicted in stealing the sum of N468,645,000.00 only being the sum of money earmarked in the Bond Prospectus titled ‘Ekiti State Government of Nigeria, Offer for subscription of N20, 000, 000, 000.00 (Twenty Billion Naira) only. 14.5% Fixed Rate Bond Due 2018 under the Ekiti State Government of Nigeria N25,000,000,000.00 (Twenty Five Billion Naira) Only Bond Issuance Programme and released for the Construction of Ero water works”.

Some other offences noted by the panel are “stealing the sum of N468,645,000.00 (Four Hundred Sixty Eight Million, Six Hundred and Forty Five Thousand Naira) only being the sum of money earmarked in the Bond Prospectus titled “Ekiti State Government of Nigeria, Offer for subscription of N20, 000, 000, 000.00 (Twenty Billion Naira) only, 14.5% Fixed Rate Bond Due 2018 under the Ekiti State Government of Nigeria, N25,000,000,000.00 (Twenty Five Billion Naira) Only Bond Issuance Programme and released for the Construction of Ero water works.

For stealing the sum of N2,750,000,000.00 (Two Billion, Seven Hundred and Fifty Million Naira) only being the sum of money earmarked in the Bond prospectus titled “Ekiti State Government of Nigeria, Offer for subscription of N20, 000,000,000.00 (Twenty Billion Naira) Only. 14.5% fixed Rate Bond Due 2018 under the Ekiti State Government of Nigeria N25, 000,000,000.00 (Twenty Five Billion Naira) only Bond issuance Programme and released for the construction of Ultra Modern Market in Ekiti State which the Claimant never built.

“For stealing the sum of N716, 688, 790. 92 (Seven Hundred Sixteen Million, Six Hundred and Eighty Eight Thousand, Seven Hundred and Ninety Naira, Ninety Two Kobo)only being outstanding fund from the Ekiti State Bond Proceed sum of N750, 000,000,000.92 (Seven Hundred and Fifty Billion Naira, Ninety Two Kobo) only earmarked and released for the construction of Ekiti State School of Agriculture, out of which only N33, 311,209.08 (Thirty Three Million, Three Hundred and Eleven Thousand, Two Hundred and Nine Naira, Eight kobo) only was expended.

“For stealing N198, 860, 023.00 (One Hundred and Ninety Eight Million, Eight Hundred and Sixty Thousand and Twenty Naira) Only being outstanding fund from the Ekiti State Bond Proceed sum of N500,000,000.00 (Five Hundred Million Naira) only earmarked and released for the Construction of Ekiti State Liaison Office in Lagos, out of which only N301, 139.977.00 (Three Hundred and One Million, One Hundred and Thirty Nine Thousand, Nine Hundred and Seventy Seven Naira) only was expended for the said construction.

“For stealing of N681, 347, 255.22 (Six Hundred Eighty One Million, Three Hundred Forty Seven Thousand, Two Hundred and Fifty Five Naira, Twenty Two Kobo) only being outstanding fund from the Ekiti State Bond proceed sum of N767.970,167.47 (Seven Hundred and Sixty Seven Million, Nine Hundred and Seventy Thousand. One Hundred and Sixty Seven Naira, Forty Seven Kobo) only released for the renovation of Governor’s office out of which only N87623.912, (Eighty Seven Million, Six Hundred and Twenty Two Thousand, Nine Hundred and Twelve Naira, Twenty two kobo) only was expended for the renovation.”

In paragraph 44, the Defendants argue that the publication in question was a fair report based on public interest, contrary to the Claimant’s allegations of libel in paragraphs 67 and 68. They contend that the Claimant’s history, as revealed in the Report of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into Ekiti State’s finances (2010-2014) dated December 13, 2017, supports the report’s accuracy.

Therefore, the Defendants assert that the Claimant is not entitled to exemplary and aggravated damages, injunctive relief, or a public apology.

The Defendants intend to present evidence in this lawsuit to demonstrate that the Claimant’s reputation is not as impeccable as claimed.

They will argue that the Claimant’s past actions, including allegations of financial mismanagement and abuse of office during his tenure as Ekiti State governor, have already tarnished his reputation, making it impossible to damage it further.

Additionally, the Defendants will challenge the suit’s competence, citing the absence of necessary parties and the court’s lack of jurisdiction to hear the case.