Former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomole has recanted the libellous accusations he made against Samuel Ortom of Benue State 3 years ago.
For good measure, Oshiomole tendered a public apology in major national newspapers.
The former APC chieftain had implied during a press briefing that Governor Ortom was involved in the murder of two catholic priests.
In 2018, two priest were killed alongside 17 church members by gunmen who invaded Ayar Mbalon village in the Gwer East Local Government Area of Kogi State.
The incident as well many other gruesome onslaught on civilians felt compelled Governor Ortom to leave the APC to the PDP.
He cited the inability of the APC-led federal government to contain the rising insecurity in the country.
On his part, and in his remarks on the 27th of July 2018, Oshiomole claimed that, “One of these Reverend Fathers in a church sermon was extremely critical of the governance in Benue and of the style of governance of Governor Ortom and his price obviously was that few weeks after this sermon, he had to pay with his dear life.”
Governor Ortom immediately sued the then APC Chairman for N10 billion for defamation of character. The case thereafter, dragged on in court until today, March 18th 2021 when Oshiomole recanted.
Oshiomole who was removed as National Chairman of APC, in his apology posted in major national dailies, said that, “Owing to the relationship we share and in the larger interest of peace, harmony and brotherliness, I believe a complete and unequivocal retraction of my comments made on 27th July, 2018, and which Samuel Ortom found offensive, is proper and necessary.“
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