Kayode Fayemi, a former governor of Ekiti State, has filed a N500 million lawsuit against Arise Television and Kayode Otitoju, a former information commissioner in the state, alleging defamation and the willful airing of infringing broadcasts against him.
The former governor is requesting N250 million from Arise TV and an additional N250 million from Otitoju for allegedly disparaging remarks made by the commissioner on Arise TV on November 22, 2022, while working as an analyst.
On January 25, 2023, Fayemi brought legal action against the first defendant (Otitoju) in an Ekiti State High Court. The lawsuit, HAD/10/2023, was provided to reporters on Sunday by Babatunde Oke, Fayemi's lawyer. In it, Fayemi requests Otitoju's apologies for his defamatory remarks made while working as an analyst on Arise TV.
Additionally, a formal apology to Fayemi was needed, along with its publishing in at least three national newspapers in Nigeria and online distribution. The defendants must pay him N20 million in legal fees and expenses. In addition, he is seeking the court for a perpetual injunction to stop them from making defamatory remarks or publications about him. In addition, from the date it was delivered until the date it was paid, 10% interest was added to the judgment's total.
He was exposed and brought to "unprecedented disrepute" by the defendants' false and careless, spiteful utterances, which Fayemi described as plain fabrication and lying contrived to tarnish his good reputation and image as an upright man and to harm his future political career.
According to Fayemi, Otitoju branded him "the problem we have in Ekiti" and made other disparaging remarks about him during the presentation.
A perversion of justice was allegedly committed by him and Justice Babs Kuewumi of the Federal High Court's Ado Ekiti Judicial Division in the lawsuit brought by All Progressives Congress gubernatorial candidate Kayode Ojo contesting Biodun Oyebanji's primary victory on January 27, 2022, he claimed.