The Edo State Chapter of the All Progressive Congress (APC) has asked the Vanguard Media Limited, publishers of Vanguard Newspaper, to immediately retract a defamatory article it published on July 23, 2024.
The article found on page 15, of the newspaper labeled certain individuals, whose photographs were featured, as “APC thugs” involved in violence near the Benin Airport last week.
The APC’s lawyer Martin Omo-Ighekpe & Co., expressed strong objections to the description of the individuals as “Edo State Airport Violence faces of suspected culprits”, and asserted that these statements are baseless, malicious, and intended to tarnish the party’s reputation.
In the complaint addressed to the Editor of Vanguard Newspaper, the APC emphasized that the publication, “Has no legal foundation and is part of an orchestrated attempt to malign the party’s image. The party had previously filed a comprehensive petition to the Inspector General of Police regarding the July 18, 2024, incident at Benin Airport, which is currently under investigation”.
The letter from Ighekpe, Esq., on behalf of the APC, also demanded the following:
1. An immediate retraction of the defamatory publication within 24 hours of receiving the letter.
2. A full-page apology in Vanguard Newspaper.
The APC’s legal counsel warned that failure to comply with these demands would result in both criminal and civil actions against Vanguard Newspaper. The party insisted that Vanguard, as a prominent newspaper, should adhere to the highest ethical standards established by regulatory agencies.
It’s against good conscience to report incidence upside down. After the Party was ambushed and publicly assaulted and many sustaining various degrees of gun shot injuries with one Police officer brutally murdered, then Vanguard is attempting to turn the story the other way round. How can we have justice in this country with a News paper abetting crime.🤔🤔