Human rights lawyer, Deji Adeyanju, has issued an apology to the acting National Chairman and acting National Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, Umar Damagun and Senator Samuel Anyanwu, after making defamatory statements against them.
The apology follows remarks made by Adeyanju during a podcast interview, where he accused Damagun of serving tea and Anyanwu of serving ‘Kilishi’ in the house of President Bola Tinubu’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila. Adeyanju further claimed that both Damagun and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, were moles of Tinubu within the PDP.
Damagun and Anyanwu had threatened legal action, warning Adeyanju of potential civil and criminal litigation over the alleged defamatory comments.
In response, Adeyanju’s law firm, Deji Adeyanju & Partners, issued a retraction on December 6. The firm, in a letter signed by Zainab Otega, apologized for the statements and confirmed they were not intended to defame the PDP leaders.
The letter also expressed regret over any harm caused by the remarks, withdrawing the statements and offering formal apologies.
The letter, addressed to Damagun and Anyanwu, emphasized that the statements made by Adeyanju were not intended to defame the individuals involved.
The letter reads, “We are solicitors to Deji Adeyanju, Esq (hereinafter referred to as our client), on whose instruction we act.
“Our client received two letters from the law firm of the revered Senior Advocate of Nigeria, J. J. Usman, alleging that some statements he made on a podcast a few weeks ago were deemed defamatory of Damagun and Anyanwu, the National Chairman and Secretary of the PDP respectively.
“Our client’s statements on the podcast were taken out of the bigger context of the conversation which is the need for the leadership of the People’s Democratic Party to provide a virile opposition to the ruling party.
“These statements were not intended to defame your clients, and any perception of defamation in the said statements is regretted and withdrawn with apologies.
“As a human rights activist, our client remains committed to the betterment of Nigeria and will continue to urge those in leadership to prioritise the interest of Nigerians over and above personal interest.”
