Ortom sues Gov Alia’s aide for defamation, seeks N1 billion damages

Former Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, has demanded that Mkor Aondona, the Special Adviser to the current Governor on Research and Documentation, retract allegations of financial misconduct he recently made against him.

Ortom warned that failure to do so would lead to legal action.

In a formal demand issued by Ortom’s legal representative, Barr. S. E. Irabor, the former governor accused Mkor of cyberstalking, criminal defamation, malicious falsehood, and publishing libelous content online. The legal notice specifically referenced a Facebook post made by Mkor on November 8, 2024, with the inflammatory headline, “May God Almighty Never Allow The Wickedness Of An Ortom To Overshadow His Glory!”

Irabor described Mkor’s publication as a series of “mischievous, malicious, and malevolent lies” aimed at tarnishing Ortom’s reputation. The notice also emphasized that Mkor’s posts had caused significant harm to Ortom’s image, sparking public ridicule and invective across social media.

Irabor further clarified that Ortom’s administration did not misuse any public funds for the proposed Cargo Airport at Daudu or the Igumale Cement Factory, nor did it pay for any Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) related to these projects. Ortom also denied any involvement in tax evasion or in using imported industrial machines for personal gain, as claimed by Mkor.

The legal notice demands that Mkor retract the defamatory statements by issuing a public apology. He is required to publish this apology in five national newspapers circulating in Benue State and on major television and radio stations, including Arise News, Channels Television, AIT, TVC, NTA, Radio Benue, and Harvest FM Makurdi.

Additionally, Mkor must provide a written commitment to refrain from making any further false publications about Ortom and pay N1 billion in damages for the harm caused.