TY Danjuma threatens pastor over defamatory book
A former Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Theophilus Danjuma (retd.), has slammed a N1bn suit against renowned cleric, Pastor Paul Rika, of the Holiness Revival Ministry Worldwide for allegedly defaming his character in a book authored by the preacher.
Danjuma, through his counsel, Tayo Oyetibo, SAN, gave the preacher seven days to withdraw the defamatory statements contained in his book titled “God’s Message to Kuteb Tribe and Indigenes of Taraba State.”
In a demand letter dated September 27, a copy of which was made available to journalists in Jos on Friday, the retired general complained that statements between pages nine and 94 in Rika’s book impugned his character and portrayed him as “a wicked, mischievous, evil, and anti-democratic person.”
The letter also made a demand of “general damages in the sum of N1 billion for the defamatory statements published of and concerning the claimant on those pages and as an option for settlement within seven days.”
It further ordered the cleric to desist from “further printing, publishing, and distributing any further copy of the book,” and issue a letter of apology to Danjuma.
It partly read, “Our client’s attention was drawn to a Book titled: “God’s Message to Kuteb Tribe and Indigenes of Taraba State” (the Book), written by Pastor Paul Rika and published by HOREMOW Printing Press, which was availed to him through some of his mentees who had purchased the book and read it.”
The letter explained that Danjume has in his employment, “several foreigners and Nigerians of various tribes and religions, including a significant number of Kuteb people; and he has never been discriminatory in any form.”
It added, “Accordingly, our client has instructed us to commence legal proceedings against you and the Holiness Revival Ministry Worldwide (as defendants) to seek appropriate judicial remedies. That being so, the following, amongst other remedies, will be sought by our client against you and Holiness Revival Ministry Worldwide, that is:
“A declaration that the statements contained aforementioned pages are defamatory of him. An injunction restraining the defendants whether by themselves, their servants, agents and or representatives from printing, publishing, and distributing the same or similar libel of and concerning the claimant.
“An order that within 90 days of the order of this court, the Defendants shall print, publish, and distribute a second edition of the book titled ‘God’s Message to Kuteb Tribe and Indigenes of Taraba State’ in which they shall state the following: ‘In the first edition of this book, references were made to General T. Y. Danjuma GCON (retd.) at aforementioned pages all of which references are false in every material particular. We sincerely apologise to General T.Y. Danjuma, GCON (retd.) for all the false statements published of and concerning him in the first edition.’”
