Secondus sues Afegbua over remarks on alleged N10b fraud

National chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Uche Secondus, has asked an Abuja High Court to collect N5 billion from former Edo State Commissioner for Information, Kassim Afegbua, as damages for defamatory publications against him.

He is also claiming the amount for what he described as humiliation, castigation, vilification and attack on his integrity and person.

Secondus claimed that Afegbua’s allegation published in several media establishments within and outside the country claiming that he (Secondus) misappropriated N10 billion belonging to the PDP was libelous against him, as nothing like that happened.

Report on the court processes were contained in a statement issued, yesterday, in Abuja by Secondus’ media adviser, Ike Abonyi.

In a writ of summons by his counsel, Emeka Etiaba (SAN) against Afegbua and others, Secondus also sought declaration that his accuser failed to prove that the PDP generated N10 billion from the sale of nomination forms and other sources since 2017.

He also sought a declaration that the publications were false and malicious and that the allegations the defendants made against him were defamatory.

Secondus also asked the court to direct the defendants to publish a written apology in all the news and social media platforms where the materials were published.

Other requests Secondus sought include an order of perpetual injunction restraining the defendants, their agents and privies from further publishing the defamatory materials against the claimant.

He also claimed that the publications were false and the said publications, which the first defendant knows to be false, have brought him to public reproach and challenged his good standing in society as a trustworthy personality.

Secondus also noted that members of PDP and members of the public had read the publications as they were published in several news and social media including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and others operating in Nigeria and globally.

Meanwhile, Afegbua has condemned what he described as Secondus’ “unethical practice in resorting to media campaigns.”

In a swift response by his lawyer, Kayode Ajulo, he said: “We have not been served. I, however, condemn and take exception to Secondus’ unethical practice. He should know the implication of resorting to the media to broadcast the notice of a pending suit to our client.”