PDP Chieftain and former Aviation Minister, Femi Fani Kayode has treated to sue Punch Newspaper for releasing a video of alleged assault on his domestic staff.
He also reported the matter to the Abuja police command who have invited a former driver to the former Minister, Jonathan Gaiya while Eniola Akinkuotu, the Punch reporter who interviewed the staff.
In a letter written by Fani-Kayode’s lawyer, Adeola Adedipe and addressed to the Punch Managing Director, he alleged that the Newspaper was under financial inducement to release the tape.
He also regretted that Punch failed to contact him before releasing the tape or publishing the publishing the allegations.
The former Minister is demanding a N6 billion negotiation failing which he would take legal action.
The letter to Punch:
“Letter of intent to sue: Defamation of Chief Femi Fani-Kayode by the Punch Newspaper, alongside her sponsors – Ms Precious Chikwendu and Prisca Chikwendu.”
It partly reads, “Our client is Chief Femi Fani-Kayode. He has instructed us to notify you of his intention to activate judicial machinery against your outfit for civil and criminal libel. Known to you in recent times, is the embroiled battled between our client and his estranged wife. You are also aware of the civil suit which she (Ms Precious Chikwendu) commenced against him at an Abuja High court for custody of their children.”
“Considering your pride of place, as the fourth estate of the realm, it is expected that you will furnish the unsuspecting public with balanced information, devoid of malice and personal gains.”
“Presently, our client strongly feels that your outfit has compromised this sacred role, for reasons not unconnected to financial inducement. This is because on March 18, 2021, certain demining videos were authorised for release to the public stream on your Facebook platform, for onward consumption by millions of people around the globe.”
“You are quite aware that the persons who feature in the videos are our clients’ erstwhile domestic staff who had left his employ since 2018 and 2019. It is our clients; belief that if you were operating within the realms of professionalism, your outfit would have crosschecked these facts with him in order to ensure balanced reportage.”
“However, for whatever it is worth you may wish to enter negotiation with us for the sum of N6 billion naira as a token amount for penitence, apologise on the platform to our client which you made available to scandalise him and thereafter assist the police with the investigation. You have seven days from the receipt of this letter to mitigate the highlighted wrongs in the above terms. Should you fail to do so, we shall proceed to seek the appropriate redress in court.”
In another development, an exclusive video retrieved by SaharaReporters, the minister could be seen with a hammer while questioning one of his workers “Why Why Why.”
The staff could be heard in response saying, “I didn’t allow anybody in sir, they only called to tell me that NEPA people were around.”
However, the moment he noticed that he is being recorded, he slowly hid the hammer and walked away.
Read also:
How Fani-Kayode Sexually Assaulted Me, Owes Me Salaries – Domestic Staff