Posted by By Chinwe Agha on
NEWSWATCH Communications Limited publishers of Newswatch Magazine has reacted to the N7.5 billion libel suit instituted against it by Vice President Atiku Abubakar saying they are prepared to defend their hard-earned credibility and integrity in court.
LAGOS - NEWSWATCH Communications Limited publishers of Newswatch Magazine has reacted to the N7.5 billion libel suit instituted against it by Vice President Atiku Abubakar saying they are prepared to defend their hard-earned credibility and integrity in court.
A statement issued yesterday signed by Newswatch Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Ray Ekpu said the Vice President never availed himself the Right of Reply to a story published by the magazine which the Vice President was complaining about either through a rejoinder, a refutal or a rebuttal.
The statement read: "We have just received this afternoon a Writ of Summons issued by Vice President Atiku Abubakar against Newswatch magazine and five of its officers. They are Ray Ekpu, Chief Executive Officer, Yakubu Mohammed, Deputy Chief Executive officer, Dan Agbese, Editor-in-Chief; Bala Dan Abu, Editor and Chris Ajaero, Associate Editor.
In the Writ of Summons, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar is asking for N7.5 billion as damages for alleged defamation arising from the Newswatch issue dated September 12, 2005 which was on sale from September 5,2005.
"The issue which bore the headline "Resign Now, Obasanjo Orders Atiku," mirrored showdown between President Olusegun Obasanjo and Vice-President Atiku Abubakar as well as the search conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) officials in Alhaji Abubakar's residence in Maryland, USA. The Vice President's office had issued a statement confirming the search and enumerating the items taken away from the house by the FBI.
"Ten days after the publication hit the newsstands, Mr. Muhammad Yakub, Deputy Chief Press Secretary to the Vice President, issued a press statement indicating that the Vice President wishes it to be known that he has instructed his lawyers to, forthwith, institute proceedings against Newswatch magazine." The following day, Friday, September 16,2005 the statement was published as an advertorial in several newspapers.
"We wish to note that Newswatch, as a responsible magazine, believes fervently in the doctrine of the Right of Reply. Though we note that the Vice-President said he felt pained to take this line of action, we also note that at no time during the 10-day interval did he avail himself of the Right of Reply either through a rejoinder, a refutal or a rebuttal.
"Secondly, neither the Press Statement nor the Advertorial sensationally published by the Vice-President in several newspapers was given to Newswatch for publication. Since we have no choice but to defend ourselves in court, the management of Newswatch met today for several hours with its team of lawyers to map out strategies for the robust defence of its hard-earned credibility and integrity.
"We wish to thank our many readers who have expressed their support for the magazine on this matter. We also acknowledge the willingness of several leading lawyers who have indicated interest in offering their services free to Newswatch."