Skip to main content

Billionaire International Lawyer, politician, Ned Nwoko Wants Retraction of Libellous Publication By Premium Times, Demands N10 Billion Compensation





Billionaire international lawyer, politician and a philanthropist, Hon. Ned Nwoko has demanded a retraction of a story written against him by an online media, Premium Times that he is a land grabber and demanded a payment of N10 Billion as compensation by the media house.

This was contained in a letter addressed to the Managing Director of Premium Times by his lawyers, Rolls Law Firm, dated May 17, 2021 and signed by Onyeka Nwokolo Esq.

The letter is entitled; "Demand For Retraction of the Libellous Publication In Your Online News Media, Premium Times Against Hon. Ned Nwoko And An Apology In Two National Dailies And Payment Of Damages For The Publication Of the Libel."

It was stated in the letter that "our attention has been drawn by several people, including members of his family, friends, business associates and co-politicians amongst other well-meaning Nigerians to series of your false publications in your news media, where you maliciously with intent to bring our client to contempt and ridicule him in the eyes of the public published false, untrue and concocted stories about him."

It was added in the letter that in one of such publications dated 8th December, 2020 and captioned "How Ex-Lawmaker, Ned Nwoko Grabbed Community's Land, Dislodged Poor Farmers" Premium Times maliciously and falsely stated that Ned Nwoko, a billionaire former lawmaker from Delta State grabbed four acres of farmland of a Ninety year-old Oghedi Ogodi, which she inherited from her husband as her only means of sustenance.

They stated that it was further said in the publication that their investigation into the allegations against the lawmaker has now revealed that Mr. Nwoko did not only bully individual landowners in order to take over their properties, he also hoodwinked the community before acquiring the land for STAR University.

The lawyers further alleged that in a story entitled; "How Massive Land Grab By Ex-Lawmaker, Ned Nwoko Ignited Fatal Violence In Delta Community" they stated that Ned Nwoko's land grab has led to violence, kingship tussle and human rights violations in Idumuje-Ugboko in Delta State.

"Your references to our client as a land grabber, who will not stop at nothing in order to takeover people's land gravely profiled him as an invader. The false allegations implies that our client is an extorter, a dishonest, fraudulent and a person of questionable character in the eyes of respectable people in the society.

"Our client unequivocally denies all the allegations you made against him in the said publications and other publications by you on same subject, which the constraint of space cannot be contained herein, all of which were intended to drag his integrity to the mud.

"On the contrary, our client followed laid down processes in the acquisition of lands in Idumuje-Ugboko. Your malicious publications were deliberately orchestrated to inflict indelible scares on the reputation of our client as easily verifiable facts were advertently ignored by you to foster your quest to destroy as illustrated hereof," the letter read.

The lawyers added in the letter that the claim that the late king's signature in the letter approving the allocation of land was forged has been investigated and authenticated by experts.

They added that those who peddled the false allegation were charged for false information.

According to them, the LGA Chairman affirmed that he confered with the late king and confirmed that he signed the letter before they proceeded with formalising and allocation.

They stated that the Advisor to the Delta State Governor on Peace and Reconciliation, one Chief Uzor confirmed the late king's signature.

The lawyers emphasized that their client is a well-respected person in Idumuje-Ugboko Village, Aniocha North Local Government Area, Delta State and everywhere, both within and outside the shores of the country.

They said that he was a member of the Federal House of Representatives, a senatorial aspirant, a multiple honorary doctorate awardee, an astute politician, an international lawyer, a business mogul, and a philanthropist.

"He is a social reformer, who has the interest of his people at heart and always attracts developmental projects to his people.

"Our client is renowned worldwide for leading the crusade and fight to eradicate malaria. And as such he has a substantial social-media presence and following.

"The publications you made were read by the public within and outside Nigeria and it has cost our client his reputation as well -meaning Nigerians are beginning to look at our client with contempt and disdain and he is being ridiculed and openly embarrassed as a land grabber and extortionist.

"His involvement in proposed businesses and several other activities are met with sudden cold shoulder and silent rebuff since after your false and malicious publication. They believed your false story and think our client is a dishonest person," they said in the letter.

They then demanded that Premium Times publish in two national newspapers as well as in their online news media statements retracting the earlier "Libellous Publications of 8th and 12th December, 2020 with an unreserved apology."

The media house was also ordered to pay a sum of N10,000,000,000 (Ten Billion Naira) only to "our client as compensation for the malicious, false and disparaging publications."

They said that the letter should be taken as a pre-action notice to them peradventure they choose not to heed to the demands.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Court Sets Aside Arrest, Remand, Wanted Declaration Against Hammed Tajudeen Akanbi

A Magistrate Court sitting in Ogba, Ikeja, Lagos, has set aside its earlier ex-parte order authorizing the arrest, remand, and “wanted” declaration of Hammed Tajudeen Akanbi, also known as Hammed Ajiran. The development follows the earlier declaration of Akanbi as wanted for alleged multiple murder by the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Moshood Olorundare Jimoh, on February 19, 2026. However, in a ruling delivered today, Magistrate L.A. Owolabi of Magistrate Court 3 nullified the ex-parte order initially granted on February 16, 2026. In his decision, Magistrate Owolabi held that the order was obtained through the concealment of material facts. The court specifically noted that the counsel who filed and argued the application, Nosa Watson Uhumwangho, was under suspension by the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee at the time and therefore lacked the right of audience before the court. The ruling sparked jubilation among members of the youth wing of the Ojomu royal family, who...

How I Was Beaten Up By Boys In Canaanland, Ota, On The Orders Of An Italian- Man Laments

Mr. Victor, a welder from Port Harcourt, Rivers State, experienced a harrowing incident on Wednesday, February 21, 2024, while at work in Ota, Ogun State. While going about his daily duties at a construction company responsible for building the ark in Faith Tabernacle, also known as Winner's Chapel, Victor faced an unexpected altercation with his boss, an Italian man named Mr. Lucas. According to Victor, the altercation escalated when Mr. Lucas suddenly slapped him on the ear from behind, without any apparent provocation. Shocked by the unwarranted assault, Victor instinctively retaliated by delivering a slap in return.  However, the situation took a drastic turn when Mr. Lucas allegedly instructed some Nigerian boys to physically assault Victor in retaliation. Subsequently, Victor was subjected to a brutal beating by the group of assailants, resulting in severe injuries, including pores coming out of his ears. Since the incident, Victor has been struggling to recover both physical...

TASA Strengthens Alliance With Lagos Student Leaders, Sets Campus Mobilization in Motion Ahead of 2027 General Election

The Tinubu–Ambode Support Associates (TASA) today Wednesday, December 4, 2025, convened a strategic stakeholders’ meeting with student union leaders from across Lagos State, reaffirming the critical role of young people in shaping the democratic direction of the state as preparations intensify toward the 2027 general elections.   The meeting, attended by representatives of 11 tertiary institutions under the coordinated leadership of the Joint Campus Committee (JCC), NANS Lagos Chapter, provided a robust platform for frank political discourse, progressive engagement, and actionable strategies for youth driven political mobilization.   TASA leadership briefed the students on the urgent necessity of active participation in governance, noting that voter apathy particularly among young people significantly affected the 2023 general elections. The association emphasized that the era of leaving political decisions solely in the hands of politicians must end, as such disengagement onl...