4th June, 2012
Former Governor Gbenga Daniel of Ogun State and six of his aides have slammed a N500 million suit against the current Governor of the state, Ibikunle Amosun and his commissioners for their alleged defamatory utterances against the previous administration of the state.
Documents made available to our correspondent from the High Court in Abeokuta showed that two different lawsuits have been filed by Daniel’s counsel, Dr. Ope Banwo, a human rights lawyer, against Amosun.
In the suits with number AB/152/2012 and AB/154/2012, the former governor and six commissioners in his cabinet are seeking N500 million damages in a representative class action against Governor Amosun and some commissioners in his government over their allegation that members of the former cabinet were corrupt and fraudulent.
The plaintiffs in the suit include Otunba Gbenga Daniel, Mr. Sina Kawonise, publisher of Compass Newspaper, Mrs. Toni Soboyejo, Dr. Isiaq Kunle Salako, Mr. Raheem Ajayi, Mr. Ifekayode Akinbode and Mr. Deji Kalejaiye .
The defendants in the suit also include Governor Of Ogun State, Commissioner for Information, Kemi Adeosun and Segun Olatunji .
When our correspondent contacted Barrister Ope Banwo to give further details of the lawsuit, he declined but simply advised the reporter request through the Freedom of Information Law.
A source close to the former Governor, who spoke on the issue, said: “It is about time somebody challenged Governor Amosun over his reckless and defamatory public comments about the past administration in the state.
“Rather than executing programmes for the development of the state, he has spent the last one year rubbishing his predecessor without providing any proof.
“It is not right to persecute people in the newspapers. If the man is guilty of any fraud, then Amosun should provide the proof or otherwise focus on his assignment as current governor,” Banwo said.
Gbenga Daniel was recently arraigned by EFCC on several counts of stealing over N43 billion from the treasury of Ogun State.
By Daniels Ekugo