Alleged N17bn Fraud: Firm Files Defamation Suit, Seeks N5bn Damages

A firm, NB Ceramics Limited and the managing director of BN Ceramics Industry Nigeria Limited, Liu Yangxi, have slammed an N5 billion defamation suit against two media outfits and one other over alleged false publication linking him with a purported N17 billion fraud.

The plaintiff in a suit, marked: CV/3993/2024 through their Counsel, Chief Akinlolu Kehinde (SAN), filed before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), listed Peoples Gazette Ltd (publisher of the Peoples Gazette – an online newspaper; Media Trust Ltd (publisher of Daily Trust newspaper) and Fidelis Akumatu (described as a journalist and correspondent/reporter with Daily Trust) as defendants.

In his statement of claim, the plaintiff stated that Peoples Gazette allegedly made the false and libelous publication on August 3, while Daily Trust made similar publication on August 7, which was purportedly authored by Akumatu (in Daily Trust).

Yangxi gave the title of Peoples Gazette’s alleged false and libelous publication as: “Petitions to EFCC, SSS accuse Chinese expatriate of colluding with bank manager to steal N17billion from two Nigerian ceramic companies.”

He said the publication allegedly made by the Daily Trust was captioned: “Bank manager, Chinese expatriates’ N17billion fraud: A dangerous economic sabotage.”

The claimant stated that both publications did grievous damage to his reputation and exposed him to public disdain, disrepute, disregard and opprobrium.

He averred that “the defendants, without verifying the facts contained in their respective articles or conducting proper investigations, published the above libelous words, knowing them to be false.

“The above published words have portrayed the claimant in the following negative light: a fraudulent person, a person who launders money, an impersonator, a person who does not care about the welfare of his workers, a murderer, a person who causes harm to his environment, a person who evades paying taxes and person who encourages fraudulent activities.

“The catchy libelous titles of the published articles portray the claimant as a person, who conspires with bank workers to launder money and commit fraud, and evades tax payment.

“It is the claimant’s averment that the said published articles are grievous, false and calculated to damage his image, goodwill and reputation.

“The articles have indeed tarnished the image and reputation of the claimant which he has built over the years as a law abiding expatriate and a morally upright person.

“The claimant’s business associates now see him and believe that the defendants have evidence to prove that he actually committed the alleged acts which includes; conspiracy to launder money, money laundering, tax evasion and impersonation.”

He is praying the court to, among others , declare that the publications amount to libel and particularly calculated to injure his reputation.

The claimant wants an order mandating the defendants, their servants, privies or agents to cause a withdrawal of the libelous materials.

He is also seeking an order mandating the defendants to each publish an apology on three national newspapers for the libelous publications made against him in the publications of August 3, 2024 and August 7, 2024, respectively.

Yangxi equally wants the court to issue an order awarding to him N5billion against each of the defendants for the libelous publications, including an order of perpetual injunction restraining the defendants and their agents from further making any false and libelous publications against him.