The claimants, who are also whistleblowers, and anti-corruption crusaders, said the alleged false information posted on Facebook labelled the duo as criminals wanted by the police.
Two activists and anti-corruption crusaders, Unazi Gideon and Eza Patrick, have taken the Chairman, Ado Local Government Area of Benue State, James Oche, to the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, for allegedly labelling them as kidnappers in a post on Facebook.
The claimants, who are also whistleblowers, and anti-corruption crusaders, said the alleged false information posted on Facebook labelled the duo as criminals wanted by the police.
They also told the court that as of the time the offending post was made, neither of them had been invited by the police in connection with the allegation of crimes as contained in the said article.
In suit number, FCT/HC/CV/2812/2022 and dated August 25, 2022, the claimants are praying the court for a declaration that a Facebook post by James Oche on the 23rd August, 2022, is defamatory of the Claimants.
Both Eza and Unazi, through their lawyer, F S. Jimba Esq, prayed the court for an order of injunction perpetually restraining the defendants, Oche and Facebook, from defaming the claimants any further.
The claimants told the court in the affidavit in support of the writ of summon that they were both in Abuja on the 23rd August, 2022 going about their legitimate business when they became aware of the defamatory publication on Facebook.
In the statement of claim, the claimant told the court that on 23rd August, 2022, the council chairman used the Facebook platform to post as follows: “The Benue State Command of the Nigerian Police Force today paraded 18 suspected kidnappers arrested in the Ado Local Government.
"In connection with this, the attention of the public is drawn to the fact that PATRICK EZA and GIDEON UNAZI are hereby declared wanted by Ado Local Government to volunteer useful information to aid police investigation in this matter.
"Anybody in contact with them should advise them to immediately turn themselves In to the Ado Divisional Police Station Igumalo. Similarly, those with useful information on their whereabouts should kindly inform the Divisional Police Officer, Ado LG.”
No date has been fixed yet for the hearing of the suit.
