Director, Media and Publicity of the Peoples Democratic Party Presidential Campaign Organisation (PDPPCO), Chief Femi Fani-Kayode is set to sue the National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Alhaji Lai Mohammed and the party over alleged defamatory publication.
Fani-Kayode, in a three-page letter by his lawyers, Ahmed Raji and Company, dated March 3, 2015, described the alleged statements by Lai Mohammed published in The Nation Newspapers as libelous. He therefore 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. The letter also demanded for N5 billion as cost for damages done to the reputation of its client.
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, Fani-Kayode said every allegation against him in the publication was false and defamatory of his person and character.
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 FaniKayode the All Progressives Congress (A PC) 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.