Abia born politician and eminent businessman, Hon Sam Nwachukwu has filed a defamation suit over the false news by Foundation for Investigative Journalism( FIJ) reporting that he was paid over three hundred million naira to construct a five kilometer road in Umunneochi LGA of Abia North Senatorial Zone
This is even as he was accused of abandoning another one kilometer road in the same local government after being funded by NBRRI
Nwachukwu whose business interests span across United States of America and Nigeria also contested under the Action Peoples Party (APP) in the last general election to represent the Umuahia South State Constituency
In the court papers made available to newsmen on Tuesday , Nwachukwu’s litigation claims the report and the company linked to his name are unknown to him adding that FIJ was paid to carry out a hatchet job on his reputation.
It states that the “reckless and baseless accusations not only constitute defamation but also violate the rights of Nwachukwu under Nigerian Law”
The litigation insists that the fraudulent report was instigated and heavily sponsored by his political opponents, and prays the court rules in his favor for a 700 million naira in damages as well as a public apology from the Author and his Medium.
It will be recalled that defamation is an extremely serious offense attracting dire consequences that are tortious and in contravention of the Criminal Code Act which criminalizes the publication of a matter likely to injure the reputation of any person by exposing them to hatred, contempt or ridicule, or likely to damage any person in their profession or trade by injury to their reputation.