Prof. Pat Utomi has announced his intention to sue Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to President Bola Tinubu, over allegations of false accusations. Onanuga had claimed on X (formerly Twitter) that Utomi and his supporters, including Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi, were planning nationwide protests and instigating unrest.
Onanuga’s post suggested that Utomi’s group, along with supporters of Peter Obi, was behind planned protests related to economic hardship, and likened them to the ENDSARS protest hijacked by IPOB members. He accused them of being anarchists and attempting to destabilize the country due to Obi’s failure in the 2023 elections.
In response, Utomi issued a statement demanding that Onanuga withdraw his claims or provide evidence. Utomi denied involvement in any protest planning and criticized the accusations as deliberate falsehoods. He warned of potential legal action, including a N500 billion claim for defamation, fake news, and incitement. Utomi also mentioned the possibility of taking the case to international human rights courts if justice in Nigeria is impeded.
Utomi’s statement emphasized his long history of participating in legitimate protests and criticized the use of false accusations to potentially incite violence or persecution.
