Fani-Kayode threatens lawsuit over ‘domestic violence’ report amid divorce rumours

Femi Fani-Kayode, a former minister of aviation, has threatened to sue Stella Dimoko Korkus, a blogger, over a report on the latter’s platform alleging domestic violence.

On Wednesday, reports had surfaced that Fani-Kayode, who was earlier in the news for his verbal exchange with a journalist, split with Precious Chikwendu, his wife, after six years of marriage.

Although it was understood the ex-minister was facing a marriage situation, one report published on Stella’s blog conveyed claims of domestic violence by Fani-Kayode on his wife.

It claimed Precious moved out without her sons and that the ex-minister took over the kids, put them under the care of a nanny, and forbade his estranged wife from coming near their house.

However, court documents seen by TheCable Lifestyle on Thursday have shown Fani-Kayode had, in response, threatened legal action against Stella if the claims made in her report are not retracted.

His lawyers also demanded that the blogger enters into negotiation with Fani-Kayode for N2 billion as a token for their patience while publishing an apology in two national dallies within 14 days.

“The publication undoubtedly portrays our client as a hypocrite, wife-beater, cruel and violent man. You also represented that the paternity of his sons (triplets) should be put in question, on account of some reasons you have elected to make the public believe are true,” the document read.

“Our Client denies these weighty allegations, as he posits that they are not only spurious, but they have been maliciously engineered. He is more particularly disturbed about your rendition, which insults the sensibilities of unsuspecting lovers of your blog across the world.

“For example, you noted that: ‘According to the insiders, as she moved out. the former Minister took back the car gift and all the goodies he ever bought for her whilst they were married and has left her broke, penniless, and begging for money to survive as her accounts were seized as well.’

“The curiosity of our Client has been raised in this regard, knowing fully-well that a bank account is not a tangible commodity that is capable of being seized. How meg was he able to seize a bank account belonging to his wife? This puts a lot of apparent discredit to your claims.

“Of utmost concern is the public invitation to debate on the paternity of his sons (triplets). These are children, who are yet to discern good from evil but have been made to become the focus of public spectacle and ridicule. Apart from the fact that these claims are completely false, you will agree with us that they are not fair comments, by any known standard of third party expressions.

“Our client is aggrieved and has instructed us to draw your attention to these libellous breaches on 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 suffers an immeasurable loss of goodwill.

“He is inclined to draw a curtain on the wild claims if you retract the allegations on the same platforms they were published and apologise to him in two national dailies. You’re also advised to enter into negotiations with us for the sum of Two Billion Naira, being a token for patience.

“Please bear in mind that you have 14 days from the receipt of this letter to comply with the highlighted mitigating measures, the failure of which will leave our client with no preferring alternative than to seek redress in court.”

Family members break silence on “separation”, Fani-Kayode’s marriage crisis

Premium Times quoted an unidentified source as confirming that Fani-Kayode’s marriage had hit the rocks due to a health challenge that his wife had long tried to manage since their marriage.

Aside from the health issue, which was said to have posed a serious challenge that prompted their separation, the source also made reference to “unapproved outings” among other “unprintable reasons.”

“Snowwhite was fond of going out without Fani-Kayode’s permission. He could no longer tolerate it,” the source said, denying the allegations that domestic violence prompted the duo’s split.

The media outlet also quoted Okey Onyemachi, the wife’s uncle, as similarly denying the claim on domestic violence.

Okey had granted an interview where he said Precious was subdued after raising a knife at the family.

“In my house, sometimes we have misunderstandings, which is normal with every human being.  I’m only aware of when she had to pull the knife,” he said when asked to comment on the violence.

“It’s no secret. It was recorded on video, the police have the record. She pulling a knife, videotaped it, and was making all sorts of comments and allegations. I felt it was when she had a swing.

“The police came, they tried and pleaded. The testimony I got that made me leave Owerri, where I stay, for Abuja was that efforts were made by the female police officer who led the team.

“They persuaded her to calm down. She was shouting. We had to go back to get a reinforcement. There was a doctor who also came and tried to assist in various ways until she was gotten down.

“Hefty men were brought. She tried to stab those who came, including my sister and Femi himself. Certain statements were being made, false allegations of someone wanting to set up some things.”