Citypost News Desk
An Abuja based Journalist, Mrs Gloria Essien-Uno has threatened to take legal action against the leadership of the Nigeria Union of Journalist FCT council for alleged libelous statement which was published and circulated on both conventional and social media platforms on the 17th day of April, 2025.
The public statement which Mrs Essien-Uno considers as being libelous is contained in a resolution of the congress of the Nigeria Union of Journalists FCT Council, held on April 12, 2025 at NUJ secretariat, Utako, Abuja.
The resolution was signed by the secretary of the council, Comrade Jide Oyekunle and made available to newsmen on 17th of April, 2025 after a world press conference addressed by the leadership of the council at their secretariat in Utako Area of Abuja.
In a swift reply dated 22nd April, 2025 and addressed to NUJ, FCT Council by Anambra-based human right lawyer, Ejiofo Umegbogu of the law firm of Chief Clems Ezika, SAN & Co; on behalf of Mrs Gloria Essien-Uno states that “our client considers the content of this publication as libelous, as the words used by the makers of that document were clearly intended to malign, defame, damage and lower the reputation of our client in the estimation of the members of the society”.
The letter from the law firm maintained that the words used by the makers of the said resolution have expressly and explicitly damaged the reputation, dignity integrity and personality of our client, and is therefore actionable in law.
The legal team of Mrs Essien–Uno therefore issued a 14 day ultimatum to the NUJ, FCT Council to among other demands render a written public apology to their client; and concluded “that failure to fulfill this demands within the stated period of time, we shall take further legal steps on behalf of our Client to seek Judicial remedy and recover damages from the Nigerian Union of Journalists, FCT council and its officials both jointly and severally.
Mrs Gloria Essien- Uno is the immediate past Financial Secretary of the NUJ FCT Council and currently the Ex-Officio of Nigeria Labour Congress FCT chapter.
