The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Prince Uche Secondus, has given the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, 48 hours to withdraw the statement alleging that he corruptly enriched himself or face a legal action.
The warning was given on Saturday by counsel to Secondus, Emeka Etiaba SAN in a letter with reference number EESE&C/1/31/03/18 dated March 31st 2018, and addressed to Mohammed.
The letter is titled: Re: Publication of False and Defamatory Statement Against Prince Uche Secondus, the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party: Demand for Retraction, Apology and Payment of Damages.
In the letter, a copy of which was made available to The Next Edition, Secondus is asking for N1.5 billion damages plus public apology.
Accusing Mohammed of defamation of character, the counsel said the publication had damaged Secondus’ image.
According to him, Secondus had been “humiliated, castigated and vilified by many as a result of the falsehood published by the Minister.”
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“We shall within 72 hours from today, proceed to a court of competent jurisdiction to ventilate our client’s right under the law and shall further seek the protection of the court against you,” the letter reads in part.
Mohammed on Friday named Secondus as one of the people in PDP who allegedly looted the treasury of the nation under the party’s administration.
He was responding to the challenge made by the PDP, through its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, that the government should name the treasury looters it claimed existed in the party.
Mohammed alleged that Secondus illegally took N200 million from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) on February 19, 2015.
Find attached the letter by Secondus’ counsel to Mohammed.
