Journalist and Public Relations consultant, Lekan Fatodu has filed a defamation suit against Sowore Omoyele of SaharaReporters.

In the suit filed at an Ikeja High Court with suit number ID/ADR/492/2017, Fatodu, who is claiming N100 million in damages, named Omoyele, Sahara Reporters Media Foundation and the online publication SaharaReporters as defendants.

The claimant, in the court document stated that a publication by SaharaReporters claiming that he and his company, Leeman Communications Ltd, were used by a former minister, Mr. Femi Fani-Kayode to launder N1.7 billion which was part of the controversial Dasuki arms funds was highly injurious to his hard-earned name and had caused serious damage to his reputation while also resulting in loss of businesses and clients.

In the suit, Fatodu is seeking an order of the court directing the defendants to immediately recant, retract and withdraw the said defamatory statement and allegation against him using the media of SaharaReporters Media Foundation, SaharaReporters Media Incorporate and the online website of SaharaReporters.

The claimant is also seeking an order of perpetual injunction restraining the defendants from publishing, circulating or otherwise disseminating any or such other or further defamatory materials against the first and second claimant.

The claimant further sought an order of the court directing the defendants to enter an unreserved apology to him which shall be published in at least five widely circulating national dailies, including the online website of SaharaReporters.

The claimant is also seeking the sum of N100 million as compensation for the damages, loss of goodwill caused to his reputation occasioned by the false, malicious and libelous statements of the defendants.
In addition, the claimant sought the sum of N1 million which he is now obligated to pay his solicitors as professional fees as a result of the defendants’ injurious acts against the claimants.