Sowore don enter oh!!!
Ambassador Lilian Onoh has filed a revised defamation lawsuit in Texas against Sahara Reporters and its chairwoman, LaKeisha Landrum Pierre, demanding more than $21 million in damages.
Onoh had previously sued Sahara Reporters and its founder, Omoyele Sowore. But the case took a turn when Sowore told the court he is a Nigerian citizen and no longer affiliated with Sahara Reporters, having resigned in 2017 and that he was returning back to Nigeria to live long term. That left Landrum Pierre—who described herself in court as the Chairwoman and COO of the media outlet—to face the suit.
LaKeisha Landrum Pierre is also one of the partners of Emmeline Ventures, a venture capital firm with investment in several US states, including Texas.
Court documents show Onoh has struggled to serve both Sahara Reporters and Landrum Pierre, as they abandoned their New York office and attempts at her California residence were unsuccessful.
Onoh has now filed a motion for substituted service, asking the court to allow her to serve them via email—a move the court could grant, given that evading service
is viewed seriously in U.S. federal cases.
Alongside her $21 million claim, Onoh is seeking a jury trial for punitive damages, which in American defamation cases can be significantly higher than compensatory damages.
This case also carries political undertones. Sowore testified that former Nigerian Foreign Minister Geoffrey Onyeama concocted the report that triggered the lawsuit, while Onyeama has denied any involvement during his testimony in an Abuja High Court, instead blaming his former Permanent Secretary, Gabriel Aduda.
Onoh previously represented Nigeria in Namibia and Jamaica. She contends that the actions of Onyeama, Aduda and Sowore, who has republished the concocted report about seven or eight times, violate the Magnitsky Act which was passed by US Congress in 2012 after the fatal Russian Government retalian against Sergei Magnitsky for whistleblowing.
is viewed seriously in U.S. federal cases.
Alongside her $21 million claim, Onoh is seeking a jury trial for punitive damages, which in American defamation cases can be significantly higher than compensatory damages.
This case also carries political undertones. Sowore testified that former Nigerian Foreign Minister Geoffrey Onyeama concocted the report that triggered the lawsuit, while Onyeama has denied any involvement during his testimony in an Abuja High Court, instead blaming his former Permanent Secretary, Gabriel Aduda.
Onoh previously represented Nigeria in Namibia and Jamaica. She contends that the actions of Onyeama, Aduda and Sowore, who has republished the concocted report about seven or eight times, violate the Magnitsky Act which was passed by US Congress in 2012 after the fatal Russian Government retalian against Sergei Magnitsky for whistleblowing.
Tooorrr
ReplyDeletesowore don become nuisance. he should face his warrant.
ReplyDeleteSo fear come make him run from america and he come dey make gra gra 4 naija. He is a coward
ReplyDeleteNormally, I take Sahara reporters' News with a pinch of salt.
ReplyDeleteI just don't rate them one bit.
I feel they're reporting from the back side of News.