LINUS CHIBUIKE
NATIONAL Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Uche Secondus, has demanded a retraction of an allegation of N10bn financial fraud, published in newspapers, by Kassim Afegbua, within 48 hours.
He also demanded a N1bn compensation from Afegbua, a former Commissioner for Information in Edo State, within the same time frame, failing which he would take legal action against him.
Afegbua reportedly accused the PDP National Chairman of mismanaging the sum of N10billion, which he said accrued to the party from the sales of nomination forms for the 2019 election.
Following this claim, the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Kola Ologbondiyan, had clarified that the party only realised N4.6billion and not N10bn, thereby faulting Afegbua’s claim.
Secondus said Afegbua had, in two national dailies, said “much of the financial transaction of the PDP under Prince Uche Secondus have been shrouded in mystery.”
He was also said to have said this in a petition to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission.
Part of his allegations was also that, instead of the party account, Secondus had used a business account belonging to Morufu Nigeria Limited for the sale of nomination forms in 2019.
However, a letter written by Secondus’ lawyers, Emeka Etiaba Chambers, addressed to Afegbua through his counsel, Kayode Ajulo and Co, said, “The above publication of yours portrays our client in a bad light and gives notice to the whole world that our client is a fraudster who is incapable of holding the exalted office of the National Chairman of the PDP.
“The two publications made by you were given prominence on the front pages of the newspapers you employed for your defamatory actions and the publications were widely circulated and read….
“Your publications which you know to be false have therefore brought him to odium and has challenged his right standing in the society as a trustworthy character.
“The publications were read worldwide and most especially in all nooks and crannies of Nigeria and this fact has been confirmed by the phone calls that have trailed your publications.
“Take notice that if you fail to retract your said publications, apologize to our client in the said newspapers with the same prominence with which you published the offensive statements and pay the sum N1,000,000,000.00 (One Billion Naira) to him as damages (all within 48 hours from the date hereof), we shall proceed to institute an action to seek redress from a court of competent jurisdiction.”
Afegbua, however, told the media that he could not be intimidated, noting that he would respond once he received the letter.
