In case some of you have not heard, APC national publicity secretary Lai
Mohammed filed a N500m lawsuit again PDP national publicity secretary,
Olisa Metuh, for defamation of character. Mohammed claims that he was
defamed in a September 20th press release sent out by Metuh, where he,
Metuh, accused Mohammed of embezzling funds meant for the fencing of an
airport in one of the APC-controlled states in the South-West and that
he collected money to supply ambulances but never did. Metuh, in the
statement, had said he wondered how Lai Mohammed had the audacity to
speak on corruption when he was 'a personal aide to one of the most
corrupt politicians to ever bestride the political space of the
country.”
Metuh has reacted to the reports of the lawsuit, saying he's not aware. His statement after the cut
The attention of the Office of The National Publicity Secretary of the
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been drawn to reports in some section
of the media, suggesting that the National Publicity Secretary of the
All Progressives Congress (APC), Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has filed a suit
against Chief Olisa Metuh.
The media reports have it that Lai Mohammed instituted a N500 million
suit at a Lagos State High Court in Ikeja, seeking compensation for
alleged defamation of his person by some issues raised by Chief Olisa
Metuh in response to one of his (Mohammed’s) statements.
For the avoidance of doubt, this office wishes to state categorically
that Chief Olisa Metuh or any of his lawyers are not aware of any such
suit by Lai Mohammed, nor have they been served. Also, none of the
newspapers that carried the story published the said suit.
If it is true that any legal action has been instituted, it should not
be limited to newspaper reports, unless it is meant for the media, as
Chief Metuh is a prominent Nigerian whose office and residential address
are well known.
We are very much aware that Lai Mohammed as a ministerial nominee may
have been nervous and apprehensive of the requirements of his upcoming
screening in the Senate, and as a renown propagandist, may have decided
to orchestrate reports of the said suit, to plead subjudice as a defence
ostensibly to stop queries by senators on issues of integrity.
This office however, insists that if indeed, Lai Mohammed has instituted
any case against Chief Metuh, we charge him to ensure that he
prosecutes it to the very end.
Nevertheless, we invite Nigerians to note the relentless attempt by APC
leaders, including Lai Mohammed, to threaten, intimidate, harass and cow
Chief Metuh into submissive opposition.
Our advice however, to Lai mohammed on the issue of Senate clearance, is
that he should not panic, but be humble, as his palm kernel in this
regard has already been cracked by a benevolent and forgiving Senate
President.
Finally, we counsel Lai Mohammed not to bring his propaganda, divisive
and destructive tendencies to national assignment as a minister.
Signed:
Richard Ihediwa
Special Assistant to
PDP National Publicity Secretary
Olisa Metuh says he's not aware of the N500m defamation lawsuit filed against him by Lai Mohammed
politics