The Nigerian Bar Association, Benin Branch has written to Chief Patrick Osagie Eholor otherwise known as Ultimate Equal, the Global President of One Love Foundation and the Father of Nigerian Students-FONS for "Retraction of Defamatory, Scandalous, Libelous statement against members of the Nigerian Bar Association, Benin Branch and has demanded the retraction of the defamatory, scandalous and or Libelous statement in the same social media platforms wherein the statements in issue were published.
Secondly, public apology which shall be published in at least two National daily Newspapers and last request from the Benin NBA is that the Dr. Eholor of One Love Foundation pay sum of Five Hundred Million Naira (500,000,000)
This was written on 4th October, 2023 as a reply to Dr. Eholor's previous publications to unveil the needs to investigate and checkmate an improper partnership between the EFCC Benin and the NBA Benin Branch.
According to Eholor in the previous publications, he stated that "I must say that I am very disturbed by the rising wave of Internet fraud among our youths and the way and manner the EFCC which is suppose to check such frauds is managing the matter.
"Let it be known now that I don't encourage fraud and will never support it. What I have noticed being practiced in EFCC Benin is a kind of corruption support corruption.
"The Benin zone is in the habit of raiding yahoo boys only to engage the same lawyers to come and do plea bargain for them on arrangement. This is not fair at all and it is disturbing. I have engaged with some perons who have been arrested and released and it is serious. Those young lawyers who are steady EFCC lawyers should know that the world is watching them and we will not stop talking about this. Our youths in hundreds are now ex convict, paying lawyers millions of naira to do plea bargain."
Replying Dr. Osagie Eholor of One Love Foundation, Barr. Edo Osagie the Benin NBA chairman, who is a name-sake to Osagie Eholor, Edo Osagie said:
"At the risk of descending very low to respond to the politically motivated balderdash from the cheap, illogical, opinionless, and self-acclaimed activist acting the desperate script of his personal Home Lesson Teachers, some of whom are aggrieved carrier Law Practice politicians in the NBA Benin branch, it has become necessary therefore, to respond to the said video in order to set the record straight and dutifully secure the legitimate satisfaction of the teeming lawyers in the NBA Benin branch.
"Patrick Osagie, Eholor is a professional litigant with no significant record of court victory. Besides his lack of capacity, competence and wisdom to save his failed marriage, he has had a long and pitiable history of slow learning which eventually culminated in his obvious low self esteem. The amiable Chairman of the Benin Bar is therefore not surprised as to why the businessman operating under the aegis of One Love Foundation continues in his worrisome struggle to be counted among those engaging learned minds even on legal issues. This is a case of inferiority complex taken too far.
"No one could have better expressed the temerity of the former economic refugee in Canada, than Chinua Achebe, when in the popular Novel; "Things Fall Apart", he said "...after eating a heavy meal, _Nwanza_ the bird decided to challenge his _chi_ to a wrestling match". Such was the views of right thinking lawyers in Edo State when the video under reference surfaced on the internet.
"On the mandate to set the record straight, it is to be noted that the issue between the EFCC, Benin zone and some lawyers only came to the kind attention of Mr. Chairman sometime last week. In his usual leadership characteristic, the former (47th) President of Rotary Club of Benin convened an emergency meeting of the NBA Benin Exco., where a decision was taken to set up a Committee headed by a respectable former Chairman of the Lion Bar; Prince Collins Ogiegbean to wade into the matter pending the outcome of the General Meeting of the Branch which has been scheduled to hold in few weeks."
In his words which is quoted above, shows that Benin NBA agreed that there was an issue between EFCC, Benin Zone and some lawyers to be resolved.
Eholor said Barr. Edo Osagie should appreciate him for calling his attention to what is affecting the reputation of the Bar Association.
Therefore, Eholor otherwise known as Ultimate Equal, the Father of Nigerian Students-FONS has replied to this letter sent to him by the NBA Benin Branch, in his statement, he said:
"A man who defames another can not complain of Defamation. I am the one defamed here and I have done a pre-action notice asking for Five Billion Naira .
"I am waiting for Edo Osagie who has been sending people to beg me since, is now writing me. I am not afraid, Ispeak the truth and he cannot stop me. I am disappointed over the action of the chairman of the NBA Benin who has not treated my complain.
"He is busy writing me to apologise to him and pay for damages. Edo-Osagie has failed to resign from NBA chairman when he knows he holds appointments with the Edo State Government and has also make the NBA weak and too quiet.
"His weakness make DSS to assault Barister Ogbankwa and many lawyers are now laughing stocks. What does this man mean? Is it not true that the NBA lawyers are now surety in Efcc? Lawyers are called by EFCC to come and bail yahoo boys and share money. Edo Osagie cannot close my mouth when I know what I am saying as a Human Rights fighter.
"He (Edo Osagie) should be praising me for assisting him to sit up, he is too weak. This man attacked me and insulted my family in the social media. I am a successful man with good business but show me your business which you inherit and have collapse. I will not take it man, you attacked my family for giving you advice and telling you you should join us to fight oppression and injustice.
"Lawyers are respected people and I love many of them like Gani, Femi Falana, Olisa. Why will the NBA in Edo State that have many people who are good elect this man who went to politician's house to tell her that NBA will defend her in tribunal.
"This is a shame and disgrace. when the politician loss the case in tribunal and the other candidate who win celebrate and laugh NBA. Edo Osagie should not make me angry. Let him resign, if he does not know what to do, he should go and face the problems in the DSS and EFCC and leave my family alone. I am waiting for him and will face him in court for attacking my family because I am telling him the truth."
Eholor concluded.