Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
The brewing political feud between the camp of the immediate-past Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, and his erstwhile Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General of Abia State, Chief Ume Kalu, SAN, has taken a dangerous dimension, as Kalu slammed N500 million libel suit against Ikpeazu’s close ally, Chief Don Ubani.
Ubani served as Deputy Chief of Staff to Ikpeazu, and also as Commissioner for Information under Senator Theodore Orji.
Similarly, Kalu served under both Ikpeazu and Orji, as Attorney General but now he is a chieftain of the Labour Party.
He claimed in the suit marked FCT/HC/CV/6777/2023, that Ubani published some libelous materials against him on his Facebook page.
Kalu in the suit dated July 10, and instituted at the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, demanded immediate retraction of the said libelous article.
The former Attorney General who has a law chamber in Abuja, also demanded Ubani to tender unreserved apologies to him which must be published in two major dailies.
The said libelous article entitled: “What a demeaning unprofessional conduct by Ume Kalu, SAN,” was published on June 14 on Ubani’s Facebook page.
Ubani had firmly supported power retention by the Ukwa Ngwa political bloc until 2027, a position stoutly opposed by Kalu who stood for power rotation back to Abia North in keeping with the Abia Charter of Equity.
