By Nimi Princewill.
Dr. Abdulmumin Yinka Ajia, a former governorship candidate of the Abundant Nigeria Renewal Party, ANRP, in the 2019 elections in Kwara State has issued a seven-day ultimatum to the state ANRP Chairman, Mr. Ade Alabi to apologize over his alleged defamatory statements against him.
In a letter dated September 6, which was addressed to Mr. Ade Alabi, Dr. Ajia demanded a retraction of Alabi’s “libelous remarks and statements” as well as issuance of a public apology which must be published in two Nigerian dailies, Nigerian Tribune and INSIDER newspapers, within five working days upon receipt of the letter.
Ajia, through his lawyer, Dr. Ahmed Isau of Earl Legal Services, also demanded that the Kwara ANRP chairman desists from further defamation, noting that failure to issue the public apology within the stipulated period will result in legal action.
The letter titled, “Cease and desist of any and all further defamation, slander and libelous remarks against the personality of Dr. Abdulmumin Yinka Ajia”, read in part: “Our client was the gubernatorial candidate of the Abundant Nigeria Renewal Party (ANRP) in Kwara State during the last general election.
“It would be recalled that our client later withdrew from the said election and extended his support to the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Alhaji Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, who eventually won the election.”
The letter noted that Ajia’s decision was hinged on the collective efforts of Kwarans who desired a change of leadership at the time, adding that he (Ajia) had long moved on with his private life and had severed his relationship with Mr. Alabi.
It added, “On the 4th of September 2019, our client drew our attention to an interview you granted to a Nigerian online news portal ‘Insiderng.net’ wherein you made statements and remarks to defame and disparage his personality.
“It is to be noted that the interview you granted contained false imputation which we considered injurious to our client’s reputation in the estimation of right thinking members of the public thereby exposing him to contempt and ridicule in the society.
“We thereby, on behalf of our client, demand that you cease and desist from further defaming the personality of our client or using slander and libelous remarks against our client in any interview or anywhere whatsoever.
“Furthermore, we demand that you should retract your libelous remarks and statements made against our client and issue a public apology in the Nigerian Tribune and insiderng.net within 5 working days after the receipt of this letter.
“Take note that the failure to comply with this cease and desist request and failure to issue the public apology within the stipulated period will leave us with no other alternative than to institute legal action against you in a court of competent jurisdiction.
“The relief that will be sought will include but not limited to, filing a motion for injunctive relief, monetary damages, reimbursement of court costs and lawyer fees.”
Recall that Ade Alabi had in a chat with INSIDER on Wednesday, alleged that Dr. Abdulmumin Ajia was a phony and opportunist individual who intended using the ANRP platform to negotiate and manipulate his way to self-elevation.
In his response, Ajia, who spoke to our reporter last Friday, clarified that his decision to decamp to the All Progressives Congress, APC, six days to the March 9 governorship election was unconnected to pecuniary gains or self-elevation as alleged by Alabi.
Copy of the letter from Ajia’s lawyer to Mr. Alabi:
