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Allotey Jacobs threatens to sue Captain Smart over allegations of using Bawumia's $5m campaign funds for 'weed' business

A photo collage of Bernard Allotey Jacobs and Captain Smart

Thu, 9 Jan 2025 Source: www.ghanaweb.com

Former Central Regional Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Bernard Allotey Jacobs, has served a legal notice to Onua TV, demanding an immediate retraction, apology, and deletion of what he describes as defamatory statements made against him on the network's Onua Maakye’s morning show.

A lawyer acting on behalf of Jacobs, accused Captain Smart, the host of Onua Maakye of making untrue and damaging allegations against him on December 11, 2024.

According to a legal notice sighted by GhanaWeb, a series of allegations was made on the show against Allotey Jacobs.

“1. That your company is the owner and operator of Onua FM and Onua TV and the various digital platforms of Onua brand including YouTube, Facebook, TikTok, and www.onuaonline.com. That the morning show on these platforms is referred to as "Maakye" and same is hosted by Mr. Blessed Godsbrain Smart, popularly referred to as "Captain Smart", [hereinafter referred to as "Captain Smart"].

“2. That on or about the 11th of December 2024 your media outlet negligently and/or recklessly permitted the publication and broadcast of defamatory statements by Captain Smart on your morning program "Maakye" against our client. The said false and damaging statements, included, but not limited to, the following:

“(a) That our client maintains a romantic relationship with an individual residing near Christ the King Church, as well as purchasing vehicles for young women.

“(b) Furthermore, that our client received and utilized funds from Dr. Bawumia, the Presidential Candidate of the New Patriotic Party. That our client misappropriated a sum of five million dollars ($5,000,000) intended for distribution to NPP party communicators, and instead utilized these funds for the illicit purchase and sale of marijuana (weed) and cocaine at his hotel.

c) That our client's hotel, situated in Cape Coast, is a venue where illegal substances, specifically marijuana (weed) and cocaine, are sold. Moreover, it was falsely claimed that our client is cognizant of these alleged activities, yet prioritizes financial gain over the well-being and safety of young individuals,” part of the notice said.

Jacobs, through his solicitor Dennis Adjei Dwomoh, Esq., asserts that these allegations are false, defamatory, and damaging to his reputation, business interests, and livelihood.

“3. Our client instructs us to say that your statements are clearly untrue and same is an attempt to destroy his hard-earned reputation and to bring his image into disrepute and court public opprobrium for him. The dissemination of these defamatory statements has caused, and continues to cause, significant harm and damage to our client's reputation, businesses, and livelihood.

“4. That the aforementioned defamatory statements have been extensively disseminated and published to a wide audience, having been recklessly and/or negligently shared, reposted, and circulated across various social media platforms, including but not limited to Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, WhatsApp, and other online forums, thereby reaching a vast and diverse segment of the general public, and causing further harm and damage to our client's reputation, character, and business interests.”

The notice continued, “5. We accordingly have our client's further instructions to demand the following; a) A formal retraction and apology of the false and defamatory statements made about our client, to be published within Forty- Eight Hours, with the same level of prominence and publicity as the original statements, immediately upon receipt of this letter.

“b) The retraction and apology should be unequivocal, unqualified, and should clearly state that the allegations made against our client were entirely false and without foundation.

“c) An immediate deletion of the defamatory video and audio from the digital platforms of the Onua brand.

“Be advised that our client intends to exercise his full rights under the law, should you fail, refuse, and/or neglect to act or perform as requested,” the notice added.