James Faleke, a member of the Federal House of Representatives, representing Ikeja Federal Constituency, has reportedly demanded a N3 billion compensation for alleged libelous publication by a national daily.
The rep member also demanded a retraction within 48 hours and an apology in two major newspapers and several online news outlets in not later than 14 days.
According to Faleke, in a letter by his counsel, Gboyega Oyewole, SAN, claimed that a June 23, 2021 publication by Daily Independent titled: ‘Group condemns Faleke over alleged comments on APC leadership’, was libelous and defamatory, malicious and unfounded.
He added that it was also “nothing but an attempt to create disaffection within the ranks of the APC in Ikeja Local Government and Lagos State in general.”
Oyewole said: “Our instruction is that your publication of June 23, 2021, you made a libelous and defamatory statement of and concerning our client, Hon. James Abiodun Faleke in the following terms:
“Recall that Asiwaju is the National Leader of APC, his wife Oluremi is the Senator representing Lagos Central and her sister Lola Akande is the Commissioner representing Ikeja after having served as MIIA for three terms.
“His daughter is the lyaloja-General of Lagos; his nephew Damola represents Ikeja in the House of Assembly Constituency II. Lai Mohammed, currently a Minister and a former Chief of Staff in Lagos State, has his son representing Ikeja Constituency I. Alhaji Tajudeen Olusi, the leading GAC member has his son as Chairman of Lagos Island L.G. Hon Oladele Ajomale’s son was defeated at the general elections in 2015, if not, he would also have been a member of the State Assembly while his father was the sitting state chair of the party.’
“Our client has informed us that your publication is not only false and without factual basis but malicious in all material respect. It is by the reckoning of our client, a deliberate attempt sponsored and/or designed to malign his image, political stature, and to cause rancour between the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Jagaban Borgu, who is the benefactor of our client, leaders of the party in Lagos State, and our client.”
Oyewole said the publication was in relation to the recently conducted primary election of the APC for aspirants seeking to represent the party in the forthcoming Lagos State local government election.
