Neil Wilby Media

Following publication of an exclusive Neil Wilby Media article last weekend, highlighting the commencement of civil proceedings against a well known, unemployed, Tameside-based conspiracy theorist (read in full here), a request for a statement was made to the prospective claimants, Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council.

Couched in careful terms, so as not to breach the protocol that journalists have to observe when dealing with press offices, particularly those attached to police forces, it said this:

‘Does the Council have lines to take on the issue of ASB injunction proceedings contemplated against a 50 year old resident of Mossley, Tameside?

‘So far, this individual has posted extensively on two separate Facebook pages (Recusant Nine and one other) and the Recusant Nine Telegram channel.

‘He has (gratuitously) named and pictured the OMBC litigation solicitor instigating those proceedings and named the instructed law firm.

‘In those particular (and unusual) circumstances, it would be reasonable for the press and Oldham taxpayers to expect a statement, in some form, from the Council.

‘The subject individual is not named in this press request so as not to inhibit a response. If, in fact, the decision to make one is in the affirmative’.

After seeking clarification on one of the points raised by Neil Wilby, the author of this article, this is the Council spokesperson’s equally guarded response:

“Whilst we cannot comment on any ongoing legal proceedings, we can confirm that we, as a Council, will take robust action, wherever necessary, to protect our staff and elected members from harassment and abuse.”

Raja Miah, the self-identified defendant in those contemplated Anti-Social Behaviour proceedings, robustly denies any wrongdoing. However, the stakes are high: If the court finds against him, he may well face a legal costs bill of up to £30,000 plus any legal fees of his own, if he instructs lawyers to defend him.

He is already facing other legal proceedings in the form of a defamation claim brought against him by this year’s Oldham Borough Mayor, Dr Zahid Chauhan OBE (read more here). If, as seems likely on present reading, he fails to successfully defend that claim, or the claim is compromised, costs and damages awarded to Dr Chauhan are likely be in excess of £100,000. According to the latest available court data he is unrepresented in those proceedings.

Bradford-born Miah also has the unusual distinction of being restrained by conditional bail both at Magistrates’ Court and by the local police on harassment and malicious communication allegations, respectively. He, once again, denies any and all wrongdoing.

In between navigating those weighty legal issues, and criminal allegations, he has put himself forward as a prospective candidate for the next Parliamentary elections in Oldham West and Royton. An enterprise in which he already seems doomed to fail, a view readily offered upon observing the almost total lack of public support in the constituency, his election material that amounts to little more than a smearing of the local Labour Party and its key players, and his uncanny ability  to alienate, sooner or later, almost everyone he comes across.

He has asserted on social media that the Council’s legal action is an attempt to subvert that election campaign and strikes at the heart of the democratic process in this country.

Follow Neil Wilby on Twitter (here) and Neil Wilby Media on Facebook (here) for signposts to any updates.

Page last updated: Tuesday 19th September, 2023 at 14h45

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Picture credit: OMBC

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