By Jonathan Ugbal
A former aide to president Olusegun Obasanjo on national assembly matters, Florence Ita-Giwa has written CrossRiverWatch Publisher, Agba Jalingo over an opinion statement by the latter on her role in the controversial Bakassi social housing scheme project commissioned by Governor Ben Ayade earlier this year.
Mrs. Florence through her lawyers, ‘Reigns Attorneys’ in a letter dated June 2, 2020 but delivered to CrossRiverWatch head office in Calabar on June 16, 2020 said Jalingo had on May 31, 2020 written a “controversial letter” wherein she was portrayed with an “air of scandal, by express and implied words, to wit: libel.”
The letter signed by one David Obande, the principal partner of the firm said Mr. Jalingo should “desist further action in connection with the above libelous publication,” and proceeded to demand;
“1. A written apology addressed to our Client and coped(sic) to the same persons you have published the letter; recanting in every material particular your libelous statements and imputations complained of within the next seven days.
“2. You will pay into this office the sum of N 900,000,000.00 Nine Hundred Million Naira) as special and general damages for the injury to our Client’s reputation, credit and goodwill. The said payment to be made within the next seven days.”
It is unclear the seven days stated in the letter as the time had elapsed before the letter was delivered to CrossRiverWatch office.
CrossRiverWatch had on May 31, 2020 reported that the woman in a photo op with Governor Ben Ayade when he commissioned a 52 unit social housing estate in Bakassi on May 29, 2020 was not given a house. Jalingo had in an opinion statement said that he was “enraged,” having applauded the state government without confirmation of their claims.
Ita-Giwa had in several rejoinders to this statement speculated to have been written by hirelings, threatened legal action.
However, she later told Korrect FM days later that she would physically assault Jalingo if she sees him.
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