AIT Responds To Tinubu's Lawsuit, Demands N100bn For Damages

AIT Responds To Tinubu's Lawsuit, Demands N100bn For Damages

Daar Communications Plc owners of Africa Independent Television (AIT) have rejected the demands of Tunji Abayomi and co on behalf of Bola Tinubu over a documentary titled “Unmasking The Real Tinubu” transmitted on AIT Vanguard reports.

The demands, which Mike Ozekhome chambers on behalf on behalf of Daar Communications describes as laughable, includes stopping any further transmission of the alleged defamatory documentary, failure to which Daar Communications will be made to pay N20bn representing damages.

In its reaction, Mike Ozekhome’s chambers declares that AIT, in transmitting the documentary was only carrying out its constitutional responsibility to uphold the fundamental objectives of the constitution.

It states further that the documentary merely stated that Bola Tinubu generally breached various portions of the Nigerian constitution.

Daar Communications is therefore demanding a complete withdrawal of the letter under reference, which must be given wide publicity as that accorded the letter from the chambers of Tunji Abayomi.

The media company demands an apology to be published in at least four leading national newspapers and four television stations, which must include NTA, Channels and AIT.

The sum of one hundred billion Naira representing aggravated, punitive and exemplary damages for the irreparable injury inflicted on AIT is also being demanded.

Following his threats on Monday March 2, to sue AIT for airing the alleged defamatory documentary, Premium Times reports that Tinubu, has asked the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) to sanction the television station for violating the broadcasting code.

In a petition addressed to the Director General of the NBC, ​ Tinubu said the one-hour documentary “violates the rules and regulations guiding such political adverts particularly during an electioneering year”​.​

“The said documentary is offensive, derogatory, unethical, destructive, and politically motivated to serve the interest of the anonymous ‘sponsor’,” the letter sent through Tinubu’s lawyers, Olatunji Abayomi &​ ​Co stated.

“You may wish to particularly note that although AIT wrote “sponsored” when broadcasting the documentary, it never during or after the broadcast revealed the “sponsors”, an indication that AIT had something to hide.”

He argued that by airing the documentary, AIT violated paragraphs 3.1.1, 3.4.2, 3.4.5 and paragraphs 5.2.1 – 5.2.22 of National Broadcasting Commission Code.

It would be recalled that Bola Tinubu wrote a letter to Daar Communications, owners of AIT,demand​ing that the company retract the publication , issue a public apology and asked the company to pay N20 billion for damage done to his reputation.

-naij.com