▪︎Says fake report about his Call to Bar status caused his Law Firm incalculable damage
A former Publicity Secretary of Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Benin Branch , Douglas-Ogbankwa, Esq, has written to City Lawyer, demanding a public apology and payment of N1 billion compensation for reputation and character damage.
The potential cause of action was a publication that impugned Ogbankwa’s reputation. The publication alleged that Ogbankwa was nit called to the Nigerian Bar and therefore not git to practise as a lawyer.
In a letter dated 7th May, 2023, addressed to Mr Emeka Nwadioke, who is doing business in the name of “City Lawyers”, a legal media outlet based in Lagos, Nigeria. Ogbankwa demanded a public apology in five national newspapers/time magazines and one billion Naira (N1 billion) as compensation for the fatal defamation of character.
Recall that a few weeks back, City Lawyers had published a news story, claiming that the Mr Douglas Ogbankwa, a Benin based lawyer, was not called to the Nigerian Bar.
However, the Supreme Court had rebutted the assertions in a letter with reference No: SCN LIT./CN/0000210.
The apex court stated in unequivocal terms that Mr Douglas’ change of name did not affect his call to the Nigerian Bar.
The letter by the Supreme Court was signed by Henrietta Aduwak Akyang Esq.
The letter stated that Douglas Ogbankwa was called to bar in his former name of Douglas Aguguom and that he was one and the same person.
In his letter to City Lawyers, the former publicity secretary of the Nigerian Bar Association—Benin branch, gave City Lawyers a thirty-day ultimatum to tender the apology and fulfil the demands of his letter.
He stated in his letter that, “ “I hereby give you 30 Days within which to make an unreserved apology in your blog , 5 National newspapers and the Time Magazine for the incalculable damage you have done to the image , reputation and character of my good self when you said in your blog-City Lawyer that I, Douglas Ogbankwa am not a Lawyer, which you know to be false”
In reacting to the letter issued by the Supreme Court, City Lawyers had issued a news story stating that the Supreme Court “Finally” lists Douglas Ogbankwa on the Roll, which is not indicated in the referenced letter that way.
According to Mr. Douglas, “…I State in unequivocal terms that there is nowhere in the two Letters referenced above, where the Supreme Court stated the lies and falsehoods you have spewed to the Public, with malice after thought, doing the bidding of Razaq Isenalumhe a Bencher and the recently sacked Attorney General of Edo State, Oluwole Iyamu, SAN, acting for his office, himself and on behalf of Edo State Government”.
He reminded them that their actions were against the expectations of Legal Practitioners.
“Need I remind you that your actions and those of your accomplices who are Lawyers constitute infamous Conduct of a Legal Practitioner. You all have taken the Legal Profession by your actions to the abyss and we will rescue the honour and time honoured respect and dignity that has been passed to us by our fore bears”
He further threatened to proceed on all fora known to law that have adjudicatory competence to determine the matter, one way or another.
He stated categorically that he was the Director of Strategic Communications of the African Bar Association (AfBA) and a well-known International Policy Analyst with the Voice of America and the South African Broadcasting Corporation.
He is also a resource person and a participant in many Conferences that borderedÿ on cardinal issues of the Law sponsored by the British Council and the European Union.
He is an analyst on Channels Television, African Independent Television, TV Continental and Radio talk Now, Lagos.
He further stated that he was published writer and Legal Affairs Analyst with the Guardian Newspapers and the Nation Newspapers.
He is also the coordinator of the African Bar Association Internship Programme and a member of the NBA College of Reportteurs.
In all of this, he reinforced the reasons for his actions, “…I have a name to protect. It is easy to attempt to destroy a name, but, it is difficult to build it. Make no mistake about this, following the Rule of Law, the Court Process and Disciplinary Processes you and your accomplices will pay dearly, following the Law for all you have caused me and my career. People now view me with odium and opprobrium. Some body shouted out on the street, yesterday “fake Lawyer” referring to me”
He stated that they had caused his office ‘Douglas Ogbankwa Law Firm’ incalculable damage and he have been debased by professional colleagues, “…did not have your facts right, the facts that you had, you deliberately turned it around to damage my reputation, with so much callous interntions to destroy my name and career.”
Stay ahead with the latest updates! Join The ConclaveNG on WhatsApp and Telegram for real-time news alerts, breaking stories, and exclusive content delivered straight to your phone. Don’t miss a headline — subscribe now!
