IPOB threaten to sue Guardian Newspaper over publication, demands retraction

The Indigenous People of Biafran, IPOB, has threatened to sue Guardian Newspaper over publication it considers defamatory.

IPOB, in a letter to the media organisation on Thursday, through its lead counsel, Mr. Ifeanyi Ejiofor, said the publication was utterly false and defamatory, maintaining it would not take anything short of retraction and that the newspaper must tender apology.

The Guardian Nigeria had in its publication of June 19, 2024, quoted the leader of IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu, out of context, alluding that Kanu was referring to IPOB when in an interview, he “condemned the killing of five soldiers in Aba ”

The publication titled “Kanu condemns killing of soldiers by IPOB,’ published on its website, guardian.ng, claimed that the IPOB leader “has condemned the killing of six soldiers by the group and the Eastern Security Network (ESN).”

According to the publication, “Kanu said this at his resumed hearing on Wednesday where he sought out-of-court settlement in the terrorism charge brought against him by the federal government.”

But reacting to the report, Ejiofor said The Guardian Nigeria mischievously and maliciously published the story for obvious unsalutary reasons, to ridicule and denigrate his client.

He said “We are Solicitors to the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) hereinafter referred to as “Our Client” on whose definite instruction and behalf, we write to you on the above subject.

“The Guardian Nigeria @GuardianNigeria on the 19th June, 2024, vide its website- guardian.ng made an utterly false and defamatory publication titled “Kanu condemns killing of soldiers by IPOB”, of and concerning our Client. The said defamatory publication which link is attached herewith, has been widely circulated and read across the globe. guardian.ng/kanu-condemns-…

“The Guardian Nigeria and the author of the defamatory publication, one James Agberebi, stated as follows: “Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, has condemned the killing of six soldiers by the group and the Eastern Security Network (ESN)”

“The six soldiers came under attack by the IPOB group and its military arm, ESN, at Obikabia Junction Checkpoint in Obingwa Local Government Area (LGA), adjourning Aba Metropolis.

“The foregoing statements and their apparent or intended meanings are utterly and inherently false in every material particular; and both The Guardian Nigeria and the author of the defamatory publication knew them to be so. Yet, The Guardian Nigeria mischievously and maliciously published same for obvious unsalutary reasons, to ridicule and denigrate our client.”

The group, therefore, demanded, among others, that the newspaper should “immediately pull down the defamatory and false publication from your website- guardian.ng and publish a full and immediate retraction of the utterly false and libelous publication made on the 19th June, 2024, within 12hours, from the receipt of this letter.

“That you  publish an express, unambiguous and unqualified apology to our Client via the same guardian.ng website, through which the defamatory publication was made.”

Ejiofor warned at the expiration of 12 hours ultimatum from the time of receipt of the letter which it said would would be served on the media organisation vide its Facebook and X verified accounts and they fail or refuse to comply with the “modest demands,” the group will not hesitate to “call in aid all known and available instrumentality of the law, in the circumstance of this grave infraction against our Client; and we shall do this without any further recourse to you.”