News

Falana apologises, retracts defection claim against Kingsley Moghalu

Published

October 16, 2019

Falan responds to Southern Governors resolution on security operations DSS Igboho

A human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), has tendered an apology to former presidential candidate of the Young Peoples Party (YPP), Prof Kingsley Moghalu, over his claim that he accepted an appointment from the APC government.

In a statement on Tuesday, Falana said it was a case of mistaken identity.

While speaking at Felabration, a programme in honour of Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, Falana 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 on his Twitter handle, Moghalu had frowned at Falana’s claim and said

“it is surprising that a man of Mr. Falana’s standing could make such weighty statements without verification.”

He denied receiving any appointment from the ruling party and discarded the claim that he is a member of the APC.

MORE READING! UTME: JAMB calls for calm amid technical glitches

Moghalu asked Falana to retract the statement and apologise.

In response, the human rights lawyer 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.”