Femi Falana, a senior advocate of
Nigeria (SAN), has apologised over his claim that Kingsley Moghalu, former
presidential candidate of the Young Peoples Party (YPP), accepted an
appointment from the current administration.
In a statement on Tuesday, Falana
said it was a case of mistaken identity.
While speaking at a Felabration,
a programme in honour of Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, the senior lawyer was quoted to
have said: “I think it is unfair to single out Dr. Moghalu for recognition. We
should not celebrate opportunism.
“Here is a politician who
contested on the platform of a party, who has moved conveniently to the APC.
They’ve just given him an appointment and he has just discarded his own
political party. I don’t think that is fair for all.”
Reacting via a statement shared
with TheCable, Moghalu said “it is surprising that a man of Mr. Falana’s
standing could make such weighty statements without verification.”
He said: “I am not a member of
the APC. I have not been given any appointment by the APC government. This
effort to malign my character and reputation, by an individual I have always
respected, was a complete shock to me.
“I demand and expect an apology
and a public retraction of this falsehood from Mr. Falana.”
In response, Falana said he did
not set out to embarrass the former presidential candidate.
He said: “At the symposium held
in memory of the late Fela Anikulapo-Kuti in Lagos yesterday, I did say that
Professor Kingsley Moghalu had called it quits with the YPP, the political
party which sponsored his presidential election in February 2019. I equally
said that he had joined the ruling party and accepted an appointment from the
federal government.
“While confirming his resignation
from the YPP, Professor Moghalu has stated that he has neither joined the
ruling party nor accepted an appointment from the federal government. I believe him in toto.
“I did not set out to embarrass
Professor Moghalu as it was a case of mistaken identity. Any embarrassment caused by the incorrect
aspect of the statement is deeply regretted.”
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