Prince Fajulugbe Adeshola Temitayo, a sales representative for Drugfield Pharmaceuticals Limited in Cross River State, Nigeria, has filed a defamation lawsuit against the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) seeking N500 million in damages and a public apology. The lawsuit, filed with the High Court in Calabar under case number HC/305/2024, alleges that the NDLEA maliciously published false and defamatory information linking Fajulugbe to illicit drug activities, severely damaging his professional reputation and career.
The crux of the case revolves around an NDLEA publication released on October 1, 2023. This publication, with the headline ‘Wanted kingpin, Chadian, grandpa arrested over London-bound shipment, four tons of drug,’ identified Fajulugbe as a “drug peddler” and prominently featured his photograph alongside the story. This association with a significant drug bust, according to the lawsuit, created a false impression in the public mind that Fajulugbe was involved in criminal activities, even though the medical supplies he handled were legitimate pharmaceutical products intended for legal distribution.
Fajulugbe, a highly educated individual with three master’s degrees, contends that the NDLEA’s accusations were entirely baseless and lacked any supporting evidence. He explains that the medical supplies in question were destined for Bez Pharmacy Limited, a distributor contracted to supply the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital. He further asserts that all parties involved confirmed the legitimacy of the goods and the transaction. Despite this confirmation, the NDLEA failed to retract its initial statement or issue a public apology, allowing the damaging narrative to persist and spread through various media channels.
The lawsuit highlights the significant impact of the NDLEA’s publication on Fajulugbe’s professional life and personal wellbeing. The widespread dissemination of the false information, amplified by various media outlets with varying headlines, tarnished his reputation, potentially jeopardizing his career prospects and causing him considerable emotional distress. Fajulugbe argues that the NDLEA’s actions were not only negligent but also malicious, demonstrating a reckless disregard for the truth and its potential consequences on his life.
The lawsuit outlines several key demands from the NDLEA. Firstly, Fajulugbe seeks an unreserved apology from the agency, accompanied by a full retraction of the defamatory statements published on October 1, 2023. This retraction should be as widely circulated as the original publication, ensuring that the correction reaches the same audience that was exposed to the false information. Specifically, the lawsuit requests publication of the retraction on the NDLEA’s official website, its Facebook page, and in two prominent national newspapers.
Secondly, Fajulugbe is demanding N500 million in damages as compensation for the harm caused by the NDLEA’s defamatory actions. This significant sum reflects the severity of the damage to his reputation, the potential impact on his future earnings, and the emotional distress he has endured. The lawsuit argues that such substantial damages are necessary to deter similar reckless behavior by the NDLEA and other organizations in the future. Finally, the lawsuit requests a perpetual injunction against the NDLEA, preventing them from further publishing or disseminating any similar defamatory statements about Fajulugbe. This injunction aims to protect him from any future attempts to damage his reputation based on the same false allegations. The lawsuit underscores the importance of responsible reporting and the potential consequences of disseminating false information, particularly by law enforcement agencies. It highlights the need for accountability and redress when such actions cause significant harm to an individual’s reputation and career.
