The vice-presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Rabiu Kwankwaso, has threatened to file a N10 billion lawsuit against a cleric, Babatunde Ayodele, of the Evangelical Spiritual Church.
Mr Kwankwaso issued the warning in a pre-action letter to Mr Ayodele, signed by his lawyer, Magaji Mato, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, and posted on Facebook by his media aide, Saifullahi Hassan.
He accused the pastor of making false, malicious, and derogatory remarks against him when the pastor appeared and addressed his congregation in Lagos State.
In the letter dated 11 June, Mr Kwankwaso demanded an immediate retraction and apology from Mr Ayodele.
According to the letter, Mr Ayodele has labelled Mr Kwankwaso a fake ally of the NDC presidential candidate, Peter Obi, predicting an eventual betrayal.
Mr Ayodele also alleged that Mr Kwankwaso received payment to accept the role of Mr Obi’s running mate.
Mr Mato stated that such comments are injurious to his client, a prominent public figure who has served two terms as governor of Kano State and is a former minister of defence.
He noted that his client is also a former member and deputy speaker of the House of Representatives, a former senator, a former presidential candidate, and the current vice-presidential candidate of the NDC.
“Our Client’s attention has been drawn to your viral publication, which is trending on all social media platforms and in international and local news outlets, wherein you published malicious and defamatory content against him, geared toward tarnishing his long-earned reputation in Nigeria and beyond.
“In the said publication, while addressing a physical congregation and being video recorded deliberately to your knowledge and televised on a live stream to an unquantifiable audience, you expressly and without cause stated, amongst other things, as follows;
“KWANKWASO IS A FAKE TO OBI, KWANKWASO WILL BETRAY YOU. KWANKWASO HAS BEEN PAID TO BE VICE PRESIDENT TO OBI AMONG OTHER LIBELOUS COMMENTS, WHILE PRETENDING TO BE A PREACHER,” the letter stated in parts.
“The publication directly and unequivocally refers to our Client and attacks his credibility, sincerity of purpose and political integrity as the Vice presidential Candidate and running mate to Peter Obi under the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC) political party.
“Your assertions, which are deliberate, premeditated, false, unprovoked, grossly unfounded and unsubstantiated, malicious and negatively portray our
“Client to right-thinking members of the society as deviant, hypocritical, deceitful and insincere.
“The intended messages in your publication are carefully designed and curated to gravely damage the sparkling reputation which our Client has painstakingly built over the years and to create a rift within the ranks of the members of NDC and their teeming supporters alike.
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“In the light of the foregoing, we hereby categorically demand as follows;
“1. That you immediately, within twenty-four (24) hours, publish a full, direct and unequivocal retraction of and apology for the false, malicious and defamatory publication against our Client, on all social media platforms and reputable local and international news outlets, while ensuring that the retraction and apology are given the same visibility and prominence as your defamatory publication.
“2. You provide a written undertaking that, henceforth, you will desist from publishing or republishing any defamatory or malicious
“content against our Client through any medium and on any platform whatsoever.
“Take Notice that if you neglect, fail or refuse to accede to our reasonable demands within the stipulated time frame, we have our Client’s unflinching instruction to take out appropriate legal proceedings against you without further recourse to you, wherein we shall claim substantial damages to the tune of Ten Billion Naira and cost of the action on a full indemnity basis, amongst other reliefs.
“A stitch in time saves nine! You have been warned”, the letter stated.
At the time of filing this report, Mr Ayodele had not responded to the letter.