Former Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, has initiated a N500 million lawsuit against Mr. Kayode Otitoju, a former Commissioner for Information in the state, and Arise Television. The suit alleges defamation of character and the malicious airing of an offensive broadcast against him. Filed under case number HAD/10/2023 before the Ekiti State High Court on January 25, 2023, Fayemi is seeking N250 million from Otitoju and another N250 million from Arise TV. This claim stems from defamatory statements made by Otitoju while serving as an analyst on the television station during a program on November 22, 2022.
According to the Writ of Summons made available to journalists, Fayemi, through his lawyer Mr. Babatunde Oke, is demanding a retraction of the defamatory statements aired by Otitoju during his appearance on Newsday, a program produced by Arise TV. In addition to the retraction, the former governor is requesting a public apology, which must be published in at least three prominent national newspapers in Nigeria and disseminated on social media platforms. He is also seeking the court’s permission for a perpetual injunction to prevent the defendants from making any further defamatory statements against him. Furthermore, Fayemi is demanding N20 million to cover the costs of the suit and an interest rate of 10 percent on the judgment sum from the date the judgment is delivered until it is fully paid.
Fayemi asserts that he has been subjected to “unwarranted public ridicule, odium, opprobrium, embarrassment, and unprecedented disrepute” due to the defendants’ untrue and reckless statements. He describes these allegations as fabrications intended to tarnish his reputation and jeopardize his future political career. Specifically, he claims that Otitoju made several damaging allegations during the program, including labeling Fayemi as “the problem we have in Ekiti.” Among the accusations, Otitoju allegedly claimed that Fayemi colluded with Justice Babs Kuewumi of the Federal High Court in Ado Ekiti to pervert justice in a suit filed by All Progressives Congress governorship aspirant Mr. Kayode Ojo, challenging the primary victory of Mr. Biodun Oyebanji on January 27, 2022. Additionally, Fayemi states that Otitoju accused him of conducting a “nocturnal sitting” at the Ekiti State House of Assembly to facilitate the impeachment of former Speaker Rt. Hon. Gboyega Aribisogan and install Bunmi Adelugba.
Fayemi further noted that he instructed his legal firm, Octodas Attorneys, to send letters to the defendants on November 25, 2022, and December 15, 2022, demanding a retraction of the offending statements. However, he claims that the defendants have failed to comply with these demands.
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