Renowned political economist Professor Pat Utomi has announced his intention to file a N500 billion lawsuit against Bayo Onanuga, President Bola Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy. The lawsuit stems from allegations made by Onanuga against Utomi.
Onanuga, in a recent post on his X account, accused Peter Obi, the Labour Party's presidential candidate, and his supporters of orchestrating nationwide protests slated for August. The protests are in response to issues such as hunger, the devaluation of the naira, and widespread economic hardship in Nigeria. Onanuga implicated Utomi as one of the organizers of these planned demonstrations.
In a statement released on Monday, Utomi, a prominent member of the Labour Party, refuted these claims, stating that he has been out of the country for an extended period. He demanded that Onanuga retract his statement or present evidence to support his allegations.
“If there is no evidence of Mr. Onanuga’s false assertion, I will assume it reasonable that the object is to water the ground for false treasonable felony charges that can result in the claim of one’s life,” Utomi stated. He expressed his intention to take the matter to international criminal and human rights courts if no reasonable explanation is provided.
Utomi further warned that he would pursue a N500 billion claim for fake news, hate speech, and intent to procure state-sanctioned harm against an innocent citizen. “If judicial capture makes justice problematic in Nigeria, I expect that I can trust extra-national institutions and global human solidarity,” he concluded.
