IYC Scribe, Okporu threatens N100M defamation lawsuit against Soyombo, FIJ’s CEO, demands 48hours apology

By Osaro Michael

A rights activist and a member of the Ijaw Youth Council, Comrade Austine Okporu has given a 48-hour ultimatum to Fisayo Soyombo, CEO of Freedom for Investigative Journalism (FIJ), to apologise for allegedly defaming and blackmails against him or face N100m lawsuit.

This was contained in a petition by his lawyer, E. K. Okorodas & CO chambers where a copy was obtained by our correspondent.

Okporu, who was an observer at the Eastern Zonal Election on September 14, 2024, stated that his voter’s card and other belongings were stolen during a violent disruption at the event when he lost his bag.

However, trouble brewed when the FIJ CEO Soyombo published a photo of the voter’s card, linking the Comrade Okporu to an alleged armed group, “Amama Boys, meanwhile, he had denied this affiliation, stating that he is a peaceful and law-abiding citizen who only inducted as observer at the zonal election.

The IYC member had demanded an unreserved public apologies through FIJ’s platform, two national dailies, and radio stations in Rivers and Delta states and immediately returned his stolen bag, voter’s card and other belongings.

According to him, failure to comply within 48 hours may result in N100m legal suit against the FIJ’s CEO, Soyombo.