Lawyers to Hon. Peter Atianashie Akpanke, member representing Obudu/Bekwarra/Obanliku Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, have issued a seven-day pre-action notice to Diamond Dietanuru Osakorigho and Pararan Mock News over an alleged defamatory video involving the lawmaker.
The notice, issued by Nunalexis Solicitors LP, accused the platform of publishing what it described as a “false, malicious and gravely defamatory” video about Akpanke, including allegations linking him to fraud, contract scams and the use of security personnel to intimidate alleged victims.
According to the lawyers, the video also contained secretly recorded footage of a confrontation involving Akpanke in his private office at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja. They alleged that Osakorigho did not contact their client or the Niger Delta Basin Development Authority before publishing the material.
The legal team further maintained that the allegations presented against Akpanke were false and that the lawmaker had never been involved in the alleged contract transaction at the centre of the controversy.
In the notice, the lawyers said Akpanke had instead intervened after a woman, identified as Ethel Edema Eweka Edosa, approached him over a transaction involving a ₦20 million payment to his former Special Assistant. They claimed Akpanke subsequently refunded the ₦20 million principal to her, while rejecting a further demand for interest because he had not been a party to the transaction.
The lawyers are demanding that the video and its derivatives be removed from all platforms, that the original recording and related materials be surrendered, and that a public apology and retraction be issued.
They also demanded compensation, warning that failure to comply within seven days would lead to legal action at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
The proposed claims include ₦5 billion in general damages, ₦2 billion aggravated damages, ₦1 billion exemplary damages and ₦500 million under the Nigeria Data Protection Act, bringing the stated damages demand to ₦8.5 billion, alongside interest and legal costs.
The lawyers also indicated that Akpanke reserves the right to petition relevant authorities over the alleged secret recording and publication.
The development has now raised the possibility of a major legal battle between the Cross River lawmaker and Pararan Mock News over the contents of the viral publication and the circumstances surrounding its production.
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