Ladipo market businessman, Lotana Okafor of Aguiyi Ironsi International Market, Ladipo, Mushin, Lagos has threatened to drag a colleague, Emmanuel Mbamara before the State High Court Ikeja Judicial division for defamation, assault and threat to his life.
In a letter signed by his solicitors, Liborous Oshoma Esq of Liborous Oshoma Chamber, Lotana (who is a dealer in Toyota motor spare parts with various shops in various markets in Lagos) stated that the fire incident that destroyed parts of the Aguiyi Ironsi International Market led to loss of goods property worth billions of naira belonging to traders in the market.
The incident on the 25th of February.
In a bid to show their anger and frustration about the fire incident and the lack of quick response from the fire service of the State Government, the affected traders and associates on the 1st of March embarked on a peaceful march, around the market premises, denouncing the incident and urging appropriate authorities to take immediate steps to forestall a reoccurrence.
On the 2nd of March, immediately after the usual morning prayers in the market, the said Emmanuel Mbamara took over the microphone to address the crowd that gathered for prayers.
He informed the gathering that the day before, whilst he was at the office of the Honourable Chairman of Mushin Local Government Area, he was informed that some members of the Market Association had embarked on a peaceful protest, which according to him embarrassed the Lagos State Governor ditto the Local Government Chairman. The Chairman was reported to have subsequently threatened that he was going to lock up the protesters and close the market if such protest should re–occur.
Lotana insisted that the right to peace assembly was a constitutionally guaranteed right, and not even the State Governor has the power to take away such rights. He also demanded that what should rather be the focal point of discussion should be how to forestall a reoccurrence of any fire incidence and appropriate measures put in place for a swift response in the event of future occurrence.
Lotana alleged that at this point Emmanuel Mbamara asked his boys to assault him whilst calling him unprintable names and to the shock of one watching, he also accused him of being a ritualist.
Lotana further alleged that the said accusations have not only painted him as a ritualist in the eyes of everybody who was present at that gathering, but have also made people within and around to scornfully start pointing accusing fingers at him as a murderer, even as he goes about his lawful business and preparations for his wife’s burial.
Lotana has demanded through his lawyer, from Emmanuel Mbamara, a retraction of the said defamatory statement to be made in the same assembly with the same number of people using the same public address system, an apology letter addressed to him and published in at least two national newspapers and the sum of Two Hundred Million Naira (N200,000,000.00) as damages for the assault, on or before the expiration of 30 days.
Lotana said the failure to retract the allegation will leave him with no other option but to proceed to the High Court of Lagos State, Ikeja Judicial Division to file a suit against the said Emmanuel for defamation of character and assault against his person.
