Lai Mohammed sues editor, writers over ‘change begins with me’ campaign
Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism Alhaji Lai Mohammed has vowed to sue two writers, Mr. Akin Fadeyi and Mr. Omo Bazuaye, for alleging that he plagiarised the “Change Begins with Me” campaign.
The minister has also said he was going to sue the executive editor of The Independent for claiming the launching of the campaign cost N3.4 billion.
Mohammed in separate letters to them through his counsel, Falana and Falana’s Chambers and signed by Oludare Falana, gave the writers and the executive editor seven days to either withdraw their claims or face him in court.
The two writers had claimed that Mohammed took a proposal they gave to him, changed the name and launched it without their approval or involvement.
But Mohammed’s lawyer’s letter to the writers read in part that, “Our attention has been drawn to your highly libelous statement published and circulated in some online media where you claimed, albeit falsely, that the ‘Change Begins with Me,’ launched by President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday, September 8, 2016, was stolen from you by our client.
“In one of your reckless statements published online, you stated that ‘What I didn’t realise was that I could become the next victim until Thursday, September 8, 2016, when I saw that the idea we dropped on the Office of the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Lai Mohammed; what seems a perfect replica of it was being launched by the minister without the consent of the real originators.
“Having damaged our client’s hard-earned reputation by your reckless action, we have his instructions to demand a retraction of your libellous publication within seven days of the receipt of this letter.
“Take notice that if you fail of refuse to accede to our client’s demands, we have his instruction to sue you with a view to restoring his reputation, which your reckless publication has damaged.”
Likewise, the letter to the executive editor of The Independent read, “Our attention has been drawn to your highly libellous statement published and circulated in Volume 14, No. 208 of September 15 edition of your newspaper with the screaming headline, ’Change Begins With Me Campaign’ gulps N3.4billion’. You also claimed in the publication, albeit falsely, that the Change Begins with Me, launched by President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday , September 8, 2016, was stolen by our client.
“Having damaged our client’s hard-earned reputation by your reckless action, we have his instructions to demand a retraction of your libellous publication within seven days of receipt of this letter. Take notice that if you fail or refuse to accede to our client’s demands, we have his instruction to sue you with a view to restoring his reputation, which your reckless publication has damaged.”
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