Ololade Adeyanju/
Human rights lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN), has apologised to the Young Progressives Party’s presidential candidate in the 2019 general election, Prof. Kingsley Moghalu, for mistaking him for his kinsman, George Moghalu, and describing him as an opportunist.
Prof. Moghalu had earlier today issued a statement decrying the blunder and demanding a public apology from Falana.
He had noted: “It’s disappointing Femi Falana, a SAN no less, can publicly make such FALSE statements. I am NOT a member of APC and have NOT received an appointment from the ruling party. I demand and expect a public apology and a retraction of his statement.”
Falana, at one of the events to mark this year’s Felaberation in Lagos, yesterday had accused Moghalu of dumping the YPP and “conveniently” switching to the ruling All Progressives Party (APC) after being offered an appointment.
Unknown to Falana, however, the person in question is George Moghalu, one-time governorship candidate of the defunct All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP) and current APC national auditor, who was appointed Managing Director of Nigeria Inland Waterways Authority last week.
But Falana in statement today apologised to Moghalu for his outburst, describing it as “a case of mistaken identity”.
Read his statement below:
My Mea Culpa
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.
Femi Falana SAN
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