By Samuel Malik, Abuja

Former governor of Lagos State and leader of the All Progressive Congress, APC, Bola Tinubu, has demanded N20 billion from DAAR Communications, owners of Ray Power radio station and Africa Independent Television, AIT, for what he calls a “deliberate defamation of character.”

Counsel to Tinubu, Tunji Abayomi, in a letter addressed to DAAR, said the media company aired a one-hour documentary, Unmasking The Real Tinubu, for the sole purpose of injuring the former governor’s image.

“You aired an hour long documentary focussing on our client (Bola Tinubu). Clearly pre-occupied with political resentment and hatred neither warranted, necessary, proper, or justified, you published several false allegations against our client,’ the letter read.

It also queried the rationale behind airing the documentary, especially as Tinubu is not contesting for a political office.

“Considering that Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is not running for any political office, we find the publication about his life utterly absurd, disrespectful of media responsibility, ethically abusive, malicious and unbecoming of a public institution raised into prominence by shareholders’ funds,’ it said.

While demanding  N20 billion damages and an apology from the media group, which is owned by businessman, Raymond Dokpesi, the APC leader is also calling for the discontinuation of the documentary, saying one cannot use the law as excuse to defame anybody.

“You cannot under law, hide under media freedom or freedom of expression to maliciously injure a citizen’s reputation,’ the letter said, adding that Tinubu would be left with no choice but to institute a legal action unless the demands were met.