Lai Mohammed Sues Olisa Metuh for N500m Damages Over Libel

                                                       APC Spokesperson, Lai Mohammed        

A President Buhari's ministerial nominee and the spokesman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Alhaji Lai Mohammed, on Monday filled a N500m libel suit against Chief Olisa Metuh of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

In his brief instituted before the Lagos State High court, Ikeja, he claimed that the PDP spokesperson had defamed him in a press release, authored and circulated on September 20, 2015.

According to him, the controversial release alleged that he (Mohammed) siphoned the funds meant for fencing of an airport in one of the APC-controlled states in the South-West part of the country.

Mohammed also claimed that Metuh in the statement alleged that he embezzled money meant to supply ambulances to an APC-controlled state in the South-West. The suit, filed on Monday is yet to be assigned to any judge.

According to him, Metuh in the statement had said, "…our final word for the APC spokesman on this, is that being ethically challenged, includes embezzling funds meant for fencing an airport in an APC-led South-West state.

It also includes when one fraudulently refuses to supply ambulances after collecting monies from another APC South-West state.

It is a comedy of roles when Alhaji Lai Mohammed speaks on corruption, a topic he practices and has well learnt, being a personal aide to one of the most corrupt politicians to ever bestride the political landscape of the country."

Claiming monetary damage, Lai Mohammed stated that Mehuh had injured his 'character in a grave manner and caused him considerable reputational destruction and embarrassment.'

Mohammed, insisted that he made the said statement based on a petition to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission written against Metuh on July 15, 2015 by the PDP, Nkwelle-Ezunaka Ward 1, in the Oyi Local Government chapter of Anambra State.

The APC spokesperson is, therefore, demanding an order mandating Metuh to not only retract his statement but to also tender published apology to him in a widely read newspaper for seven consecutive days.

He also sought for an order of perpetual injunction restraining Metuh and his privies from further publishing or disseminating libelous materials against him.