[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="500" caption="Olisa Metuh"]
[/caption]
The Publicity Secretary of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olisa Metuh, has responded to media reports that spokesperson of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has filed a N500 million suit against him at a Lagos State High Court in Ikeja, seeking compensation for alleged defamation of his person by some issues raised by him (Metuh) in response to one of his (Mohammed’s) statements.
A statement by the special assistant to the PDP Publicity Secretary, Richard Ihediwa, stated neither Metuh nor any of his lawyers was aware of any such suit by Mohammed, adding that they have not been served.
The statement reads:
“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 stated 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 stated 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.”