The National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Iyiola Omisore, has demanded a retraction of comments allegedly made by the Vice Chairman, North-West of the APC, Dr. Salihu Lukman, accusing him (Omisore) of misusing campaign funds for the Osun State governorship election.
Senator Omisore said that the failure to retract the comment, Lukman should pay him the sum of N500 million in damages
He demanded a 48-hour deadline for the publication of an apology and retraction in two major newspapers and numerous online news outlets.
According to reports, Lukman made the accusation on Tuesday while participating in a programme on Africa Independent Television (AIT).
Omisore accused Lukman of making statement, which impinged on his character, suggesting that he was a fraudulent person.
According to Omisore, Lukman said on the programme: “I’m aware the party gave some campaign funds to Osun, which were handled by the National Secretary, and to some extent, he has either mismanaged it or, more importantly, he is not accounting to anybody,” he had said.
“You have to activate the process of accountability.”
Omisore insisted that the accusation had harmed his reputation and integrity in a letter to Lukman dated March 15 and addressed through his attorney.
He stated that it was beyond a shadow of a doubt that Lukman’s statement and publication were an attempt to undermine his reputation and integrity in the eyes of the public who were of sound mind.
The party scribe insisted that it was an intentional attempt to damage his reputation as a prominent leader in Osun State, the South-West geopolitical region, and Nigeria as a whole.
“Our client has therefore directed us to request a retraction of your libelous statement and publication, an apology to be published in two (2) major newspapers and several online news outlets not later than forty-eight (48) hours of this letter’s delivery, as well as the payment of the sum of N500 million as damages for malicious statement against our client,” the letter read.
“Take notice that we shall be forced to proceed to the court of law against you for exemplary damages for injurious falsehood and malicious statement made of and concerning our client if you fail to heed the request of our client within forty-eight (48) hours of the receipt of this letter,” the letter further read.
Stay ahead with the latest updates! Join The ConclaveNG on WhatsApp and Telegram for real-time news alerts, breaking stories, and exclusive content delivered straight to your phone. Don’t miss a headline — subscribe now!
