Apostle Johnson Suleman, President/ Founder of Omega Fire Ministry (OFM), has filed a one billion naira lawsuit for libel against, 23-year old Canada-based Nigerian budding singer, Stephanie Otobo and Sahara Reporters, an online news platform; Suleiman’s lawyer, Osa Director has revealed.
This is coming weeks after the clergyman arrested Ms. Otobo on allegations of blackmail, threat to life, conspiracy, and intent to steal from him.
Instituting a lawsuit against Otobo and Sahara Reporters, Suleman said he is suing both of them for the libellous statements made against him by Otobo and published by Sahara Reporters.
The case with suit no: ID/ADR/374/2017 is filed at Ikeja High Court in Lagos. Apart from the 1bn each damages against both parties, he is also seeking ”an interlocutory injunction restraining the Defendants, their agents, servants, privies, representatives or any person, whosoever, acting or carrying out their individual and/or collective instructions from further publishing or causing to be published any defamatory publication touching on or relating to the person of the Claimant and the subject matter until after the determination of the substantive suit”.
According to his counsel, “Suleman decided to institute the action and put blackmailers out of business. Many Nigerians under similar circumstance will just allow the matter to slide into the inner recess of our memory, either due to ignorance, lack of resources or impatience with the judicial process”.
“But, Apostle Suleman is a dogged fighter and principled man of God who does not take kindly to anything that will tarnish his image. Therefore, he is ready to pursue the matter until justice is done”.
“To signpost his determination to get justice, apart from Director, he has lined up four other lawyers, led by a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Chief Efe Akpofure, to prosecute the matter. The other lawyers in the team are Emmanuel Usoh, Victor Idiapho and Erhabor”
Recall that Otobo is also facing a criminal trial by the IGP for blackmail, threat to life and conspiracy to obtain money by false pretences.
Last month, Ms. Otobo during a press conference had accused Mr. Suleiman of illegal procurement of abortion, threat to life and attempted murder. She and her lawyers had promised to sue Suleiman for ‘breach of promise of marriage’.
However, investigations have revealed that, till date the Festus Keyamo & Co. Chambers handling Otobo’s case are yet to file a law suit against Suleiman for breach of promise to marry.
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