Dr. Justina Anjiode Kotso, the Rector of Isa Mustapha Agwai Polytechnic in Lafia, has filed a lawsuit against Rabiu Omaku, the Nasarawa State Correspondent of Universal Reporters. The legal action stems from allegations of false publications made by Omaku against Dr. Kotso and the institution.
Omaku’s report, titled “Rector IMAPOLY (Formerly Nasarawa State Polytechnic) In The Eyes Of The Storm As Allowances Of SIWES Students Disappeared Into Thin Air,” was published on September 18, 2023. It accused the Rector of embezzling funds intended for graduates of the polytechnic who participated in the Students Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES), among other allegations.
In a statement to the press in Lafia on Friday, Dr. Kotso expressed that the report had severely damaged her reputation and raised doubts about her integrity among many residents of the state. Consequently, she sought legal counsel on the matter.
A letter from M. I. Dikko chambers, which was served to Rabiu Omaku and obtained by our correspondent, revealed that Dr. Kotso is not only seeking N100 million in compensation but also demands the removal of the allegedly defamatory report from the Universal Reporters website. Additionally, she has requested a retraction of the report within seven days of receiving the notice.
“We are Counsel to Dr. Justina Anjiode Kotso, the Rector, Isa Mustapha Agwai Polytechnic Lafia, Nasarawa State, formerly called Nasarawa State Polytechnic, hereinafter referred to as our client, and on whose firm instructions and on behalf, we write this final demand/retraction notice which we do hope shall receive the urgency it desires.
“Our client informed us and we have seen documentary evidence to the effect that on the 18th day of September, 2023, you published a defamatory article via Universal Reporters, an online news and media outlet website.
“We wish to state without mincing words that our client is an administrator and academia per excellence who has benefitted immensely from the education sector of the country.
“And she has no intention whatsoever of sabotaging the system which she has carved a niche for herself, and has gained for herself national and international recognitions.
“We demand that you immediately publish a retraction and apologize to our client on the website of Universal Reporters, and circulate same widely across social media platforms.
“We demand that you cause a publication of apology/retraction in at least, two national dailies and one local newspaper in Lafia, Nasarawa State without delay. We also demand that you pay the sum of N100,000,000 (One Hundred Million Naira) only to our client as compensation.
“Failure to meet our client’s simple demands within seven days, we shall have no option but to commence both criminal and civil actions against you in competent courts of law,” the letter read in part.