Fani-Kayode sues popular blogger, demands N2bn for defamation

Former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, has written a pre-litigation letter to controversial blogger, Stella Dimokorkus, demanding a N2bn compensation from her for writing a report about him of which he termed defamatory.

The blogger had reported that the former minister’s wife, Precious Chikwendu, separated from him due to domestic violence. She also alleged that Fani-Kayode’s triplet sons were conceived through IVF.

The letter, dated September 16, 2020 and titled, ‘Defamation of Chief Femi Fani-Kayode- Re: Femi Fani-Kayode and Precious Chikwendu Part Ways Over Alleged Domestic Violence’, stated that the allegations were false and maliciously engineered.

The former minister stated that he found the report disturbing and an insult to the sensibilities of unsuspecting readers. He went on to deny allegations that he retrieved the car he bought for his estranged wife and had left her broke.

Fani-Kayode said it was depressing that his innocent kids could be dragged into such a report, subjecting them to ridicule.

The letter further read, “Our client is aggrieved and has instructed us to draw your attention to these libelous breaches of his person and family. By this publication, our client has received denigrating phone calls and messages across the globe by virtue of which he now sufferers immeasurable loss of goodwill.

“However, he is inclined to draw a curtain over the wild and spurious claims if you retract the allegations on the same platform they were published and consequently apologise to him in two other national dailies.

“You are also advised to enter into negotiations with us for the sum of two billion naira only being a token amount for penitence. Please bear in mind that you have 14 days from receipt of this letter to comply with the highlighted mitigating measures, the failure of which will leave our client with no preferred alternative than to seek redress in court.”

Recall that Fani-Kayode and Chikwendu, who is a former beauty queen, became a couple in 2015 and welcomed a son in 2016. The couple welcomed a set of triplet boys in 2018.