The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Uche Secondus, has threatened the former Spokesperson of the PDP, Prince Kassim Afegbua with a N1bn lawsuit over the latter’s allegations against the former that he mismanaged party’s funds to the tune of N10 billion
According to Secondus, Afegbua who is also a former Commissioner for Information in Edo State, defamed his character through his several statements as he demanded a retraction on his claims.
Recall Afegbua, had at several times criticised the National Working Committee (NWC) led by Secondus for not been proactive enough. According to Afegbua, Secondus has outlived his usefulness.
Afegbua had also stated that Secondus is not capable to deliver 2023 polls for the PDP.
Following up on his words, Afegbua had dragged the party’s national chairman to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) over allegations of N10 billion fraud.
According to Afegbua, the N10billion accrued from the sale of the party’s nomination forms for the 2019 General election.
In the petition, Afegbua had asked the anti-graft agencies to scrutinise the N10bn and subsequently reveal the details of the investigation to the public.
However, Secondus in his response, has given a 48-hour ultimatum to Afegbua to pay a sum of N1billion for damages and immediately retract the defamatory statements with a public apology or be ready to face a lawsuit.
This was contained in a letter by his lawyer, Emeka Etiaba (SAN), dated April 29, 2021 and addressed to Afegbua.
The letter was titled ‘Re: Case of defamation of character of Prince Uche Secondus: National chairman, Peoples Democratic Party.’
Secondus, in the letter, stated that apart from the petition filed before the anti-graft agencies, Afegbua had made several defamatory claims against him.
According to Secondus, Afegbua made several defamatory claims which portrayed him as a fraudulent man.
Secondus, through Etiaba, demanded that Afegbua apologise to him through the various media outfits he used to pass his defamatory claims.
Secondus, however, denied all allegations against him, stating that he is a trustworthy person who served the party without blemish.
The letter partly reads, “The above 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, apologise to our client in the said newspapers with the same prominence with which you published the offensive statements and pay the sum of N1bn 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.”
