Maroc - VERACITY.COM.NG - A La Une - 17/Jan 06:23

Ondo APC Chieftain, Daddy Billions demands N10m over alleged defamation

A chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress in Ondo State, Olutayo Yomi Victor also known as Daddy Billions has demanded a sum of N10m from one Omolaja Opeyemi over alleged defamatory statement against him via WhatsApp.In a letter signed by Olutayo's lawyer, Temitope Gbadebo and made available to newsmen, Omolaja was asked to remedy the post alleged to have defamed Olutayo within seven days.The letter titled “Demand for Retraction of Defamatory Statement, Apology/Pre-Action Notice” reads, “We are Solicitors to Olutayo Yomi Victor (Daddy Billion) of 35 Eti Oro, Akungba Akoko (herein referred to as Our Client) and on firm whose instructions we hereby act. It has been brought to our notice that on the 13th day of January, 2025, at 8:10pm, you posted via your WhatsApp Status, Instagram handle, and your X account, which read thus:“I will post the list I know, boyfriends in hierarchy. Check, maybe your friend or relative is wasting his time. Yomi, Daddy Billions (A Politician, a married man, a car dealer, he lives in Akungba)” which has now gone viral via social media platforms.Attached are screenshots.“That your post already generated over 200 reposts on WhatsApp, 200 quotes, 789 likes, 340 bookmarks, 200k impressions on X formerly called Twitter.“Negative, damaging, and defamatory threads of comments, and our client has since received innumerable disturbing phone calls from family, friends, and business associates to this effect.“It is important to note that your post with the above captions portrays our client thus: 1. An irresponsible man, 2. A serial cheater. 3. And an unserious man.“Contrary to your depiction of our client, our client is not any of the attributes mentioned above. Our client is a responsible father of two children, husband to a beautiful woman, a registered business owner with Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) named Billion Autos, a reputable politician in Ondo State, and a leader in his Local Government. It is also important for you to know that our client is a responsible, responsive, God-fearing, and hardworking man who values hard work among many other great virtues.“You simply made a post and painted a scenario of your own imagination via your WhatsApp handle by casting grievous aspersions, false allegations, and insults on our client.“This action of yours is defamatory, untrue, and a disparaging product of your own imagination. You have been unfair, unreasonable, heartless, most unkind, and have displayed a cruel act to a fellow human being. Your reckless post has tarnished the impeccable image of our client, one which he has carefully built over the years even before he joined politics. This post has demeaned our client before the eyes of well-meaning people, customers, his political associate, and the whole world.“Your post against our client is not only libelous and traumatic but defaming to his character and by extension violated his right to dignity of the human person.“In view of the above, our Client would be demanding redress in the appropriate Court of law if within 7 days, you do not remedy the post by correcting the enormous picture you have painted with full apology via 3 newspaper publications (The Tribune, The Punch, and The Vanguard) and all other social media platforms where you are featured, and in addition, pay the sum of ₦10,000,000 (Ten Million Naira) as damages for your wrongful allegations and libelous post.“TAKE NOTICE that if you do not comply with the demands of our client within 7 days, we will be proceeding with the instruction of our client to institute a lawsuit against you.“Be assured of our warmest regards.