TheCable

Kayode Fayemi, minister of solid minerals development, has taken Lere Olayinka, spokesman of Ayodele Fayose, to court over “libellous” statements made against him.

Fayemi also sued Samuel Omotoso, a member of Ekiti state house of assembly.

On July 6, 2016, the duo during a live television programme allegedly said Fayemi took N1.5 billion from Ekiti treasury and gave it to Muhammadu Buhari, the then presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Olayinka also alleged that Fayemi spent the state’s funds to build a private university for his benefit in Ghana.

However, in a suit marked 6/577/2016 and filed at a high court in Abuja, Fayemi sought N3 billion in damages.

The former Ekiti governor also wants a retraction of the statements, a public apology to be published and aired on Ekiti state television and Channels television.

Fayemi said the comments of the duo exposed him to “public ridicule, odium, opprobrium, embarrassment and unprecedented disrepute”.

He described it as “incalculable and tremendous injury” to his image and personality as an “international figure”.

The minister prayed the court for an injunction restraining the defendants from making such kind of statements against him.

A date is yet to be fixed for hearing of the case.