Fani-Kayode to sue Lai Mohammed and APC, demands ₦5 Billion for damages

The Director, Media and Publicity of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP Presidential Campaign Organisation, PDPPCO, Chief Femi Fani- Kayode has concluded arrangements to sue the National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Alhaji Lai Mohammed over alleged defamatory publication.

In a three-page letter by his lawyers, Ahmed Raji and Company, dated March 3, 2015, Fani-Kayode who described the alleged statements by Lai Mohammed as libellous against him, caused to be published in The Nation Newspapers, however demanded for a retraction of the said statement as well as an apology to him within seven days of the receipt of his letter by Lai Mohammed, just as he also plans to sue the APC along side its spokesperson.



The letter also demanded for N5 billion(Five Billion Naira) as cost for damages done to the reputation of its client failing which the client will sue Lai Mohammed.

Fani-Kayode, while denying the content of the report, titled: “We’re concerned about Fani-Kayode’s mental status” and the innuendoes contained in it, published on Tuesday, the 3rd day of March, 2015 on page 6 of Nation Newspaper, said every allegation against him in the said publication was false and defamatory of his person and character.

Mr Whyteman Prekunomaa advised saying, “You (Lai Mohammed) are also to enter into negotiation for damages as we have firm instructions to claim five billion naira damages against you.”
“Take notice, therefore, that it will amount to a specious gamble on your part, if you treat this letter with levity.”

The lawyers in a letter titled, ” Re: Femi Fani- Kayode: We’re Concerned about Fani KAYODE’s mental status”, read in full, “We are solicitors to Chief Femi Fani — Kayode (hereinafter refereed to as Our Client). We write you pursuant to Our Client’s instruction in respect of a publication on Tuesday, the 3rd day of March, 2015 on Page 6 of Nation Newspaper wherein you made a statement and same was printed with the above caption, and hereunder reproduced as follows:

“Contrary to information being peddled by the Director of Media and Publicity of the Jonathan campaign Organisation . Femi Fani Kayode the All Progressives Congress (APC) has said the party does no, wish him any ill-health, “even though it is seriously concerned about his mental state.”…
“APC ‘s National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed in a statement in Dubai yesterday, said; ‘‘No, we have never and will never wish anyone any ill-health.

“However, we are seriously concerned that Mr. Fani-Kayode may have unhinged, perhaps as a result of a relapse into an unhealthy lifestyle of substance abuse.

“Our concern stems from the series of incoherent statements, outlandish claims and inconsistent behaviours exhibited by Mr. Fani-Kayode in recen! times, which call into question his state of mental health.

“We wish Mr. Fani-Kayode well and call on him to tell Nigerians that he remains clean, despite the massive pressure of work, and that he will not do anything that will see him needing a prolonged reformation in a foreign land.

“The party said it was only an unstable mind and someone teetering on the brink that would conjure up the kind of improbable scenarios that had been put out there in quick succession by Mr. Fani-Kayode, and still believed strongly that he was doing the right thing.

“It said the APC did not harbour the kind of disturbed personalities, who abound in the PDP, and who would not hesitate to publicly wish Jèllow Nigerians ill or dead, as long as they believe such ill-will would endear them to their masters and guarantee their political survival.

“The party has, however, urged the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Fani- Kayode to produce evidence on their purported claims that the APC vice presidential running-mate, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, entered into a pact with APC

“National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to resign as vice president after the APC presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buhan, might have won the presidential election.

“Director of Media and Publicity, APC presidential campaign organisation, Mallam Garba Shehu said the PDP and Fani-Kayode should provide evidence of the oath-taking and resignation of Prof Osinbajo for Asiwaju Tinubu or retract the libellous claims within 72 hours or be ready to be sued to court.

“He said: ‘For the PDP, through Fani-Kayode, to slate publicly that an erudite
professor of law, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and a reputable pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God swore to an oath to vacate his seat as the vice president for Asiwaju Tinubu, should the party win the forthcoming election, is an attack on the hard-won integrity and the reputations of these great Nigerians and A PC stalwarts.

“We view this as both slanderous and libellous and, therefore, will not leave the matter to chance. To this effect, we hereby give Fani-Kayode and the PDP 72hours to produce evidence or in the alternative issue public apology’ to Pastor Osinbajo, Asiwaju Tinubu and our party, the APC, or be prepared to be charged to the court of law.

“Our Client denies in its entirety the contents of the above publication and innuendoes therein, and further states that every allegation against him in the said publication is false and defamatory of his person and character.

“Consequently, we demand that you withdraw the said statement and render an apology to our Client within Seven (7) days of the receipt of this letter. You are also to enter into negotiation for damages as we have firm instructions to claim Five Billion Naira damages against you.

TAKE NOTICE therefore, that it will amount to a specious gamble on your part, if you treat this letter with levity.”