Defamation: Salesman demands N500m damages from NDLEA in C’River

A sales representative with Drugfield Pharmaceuticals Limited in Cross River State, Prince Fajulugbe Adeshola Temitayo, has instituted a lawsuit against the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency over the allegation of character defamation.

The claimant instituted the case with the file number HC/305/2024 through his lawyer, E. E. Osim, of the Advocates Chambers, Calabar, Cross River State.

The sales representative, who is a scholar, with three Master’s degrees, is demanding N500 million in damages from the NDLEA for maliciously damaging his professional reputation.

He alleged that NDLEA’s defamatory actions resulted in irreparable harm to his reputation and career.

According to the suit, the controversy stems from an October 1, 2023, publication by the NDLEA, branding him a “drug peddler.”

He said that the agency associated his name and picture with illicit drug activities under the headline ‘Wanted kingpin, chadian, grandpa arrested over London-bound shipment, four tons of drug.”

The publication, was widely circulated across various media outlets with different headlines.

Fajulugbe insisted that the NDLEA’s claim was baseless and has since been disproved, asserting that the medical supplies in question were legitimate pharmaceutical products destined for Bez Pharmacy Limited.

He explained that the distributor in question was under contractual obligations to supply the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital.

He noted that inspite of the legitimate nature of the goods, which was confirmed by the parties involved, the NDLEA failed to issue a public correction or apology, thereby allowing the defamatory content to remain unaddressed.

Amongst the claimant’s prayers are an unreserved apology and a retraction of the offensive words published by the defendant in the same and similar petition, an order of the court for the retraction of the defamatory statement by the defendant in their official website, Facebook page and in two national dailies.

He further demanded for the sum of N500 million as exemplary damages for the libellous article/publication.

Finally, he also sought an order of perpetual injunction, restraining the defendant by itself or servants, or privies, or agents, or hirelings or otherwise howsoever from further publication of the said offensive and libellous words or any of them or any words to the like effect.