FCC Jones Frowns as Uche Nwosu Drags Another Imolite to Court

Former Publicity Secretary of the Imo State All Progressives Congress APC and National Deputy Youth Leader of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Mazi Onwuasoanya FCC Jones, have frowned at politicans who are in the habit to taking journalists to court.

This is coming as the former governorship candidate of the Action Alliance AA and Okorocha’s son-in-law, Mr Uche Nwosu have yet again dragged another Imolite to court, over allegations of defamation of character.

A court document circulated on the social media, shows that Uche Nwosu had dragged the former New Media Director of the Imo State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party PDP, Mr. Ambrose Nwaogwugwu to court since July of 2021, over allegations of making defamatory publications against his person.

Recall that Nwosu had earlier this month, dragged a journalist and an Anglican Knight, Sir Collins Chibueze Ughalaa, to court for calling him a “suspected criminal”, following Uche Nwosu’s recent arrest by men of the Nigeria Police.

In his reaction, Onwuasoanya expressed his displeasure at politicans who were in the habit of taking journalists to court. This write-up reads as follows:

“Politicians, if well advised, would not go into the wild goose chase of suing writers, newspaper companies, activists and whatnot for defamation and libel. Ironically, those who are supposed to advise them are actually those who prod them into that ‘silly’ adventure, because, that’s about a good opportunity for the retinue of lawyers they surround themselves with, hope to open another avenue to collect money from them, and also show themselves as ‘loyal’ and hardworking.

“Any lawyer who truly love you would advise you that majority of libel cases are decided in favour of defendants and less than 10% actually get to the final judicial destination, being the Supreme Court. Even in the Western world, libel cases are rarely decided in favour of petitioners. The Duke and Princess of Sussex for instance, have taken it as a duty to try to send a strong message to media companies not to unnecessarily “harass” them, but this has left them more bruised in the media than they were before they started these series of litigations against media houses.

“When you see a stubborn journalist and activist like Nwadike Precious U my criminal friend, you would have bought yourself a good space in his newspaper, as he would make sure that the progress of the case receives adequate coverage, sometimes, sensationally. For instance, the single action that ensured that the alleged disappearance of the bailout funds remained alive both in the media and consequently, in the consciousness of Imolites and Nigerians is the wrong decision to take legal action against Precious Nwadike and some media houses that carried the news. That legal action also gave Watchdog newspaper it’s biggest break and made it a frontline newspaper in the State.

“Some politicians think that suing a writer or a journalist would shut his or her critics up or force them to stop writing against you, but most times, it increases the volume of bad press against you. Except if it is a matter you were somehow compelled to write on, a normal writer who wrote from his heart on an issue would ensure that the matter continues to take prominent space in his or her writings.

“Also, a politician who is in the habit of suing those who question his or her activities or even personality is exposing himself as intolerant, pretentious and insecure. One of the key attributes of a good leader is maintaining good self-esteem, not feigning it. Running from one court to another with suits against your critics is the surest way to show that you haven’t got your lessons right in public governance and being a public personality.

“Even when you win a libel case against someone, up to Supreme Court, you still haven’t won anything, because there is little or no way of ensuring that some of those rulings are enforced, especially, when it has to do with being paid monetary damages.”