Attorney General sued over Minister Nankhumwa’s defamatory remarks: Ngoka demands K50m compensation
Former Kasungu Municipality chief executive officer, who was sent on forced leave pending an investigation following accusations of maladministration, has gone to court to claim K50 million from Minister of Local Government and Rural Developmen Kondwani Nankhumwa for his loose tongue.
Nankhumwa alleged that Ngoka and Nkhotakota district commissioner Felix Mkandawire were sent on forced leave because they were allegedly involved in corruption.
The minister made the statement during the commemoration of the African Day of Decentralisation in August this year in Lilongwe.
Ngoka is, meanwhile, demanding a cool K50 million from Attorney General for the statement of the minister.
Nankhumwa now has the difficult task of proving that Ngoka was indeed involved in corruption.
Ngoka’s claims through a demand letter to the Attorney General’s Chambers by his lawyers, Mbulo Attorneys at Law seen by Nyasa Times.
Lawyer Leonard Mbulo said he has filed in the High Court summons against the Attorney General giving the office 28 days to satisfy theclaim or make a submission for defence.
“Take notice that if you fail to satisfy the claim or tofile a defence and list of documents or to return the respondent within the time started… the claimant may proceed with the claim and judgement may be entered against you without further notice,” reads part of the summons documents.
The lawyer argues that Nankhumwa remarks were defamatory as his client moral standing in society has been lowered as people now perceive him as a corrupt person.
Attorney General Kalekeni Kaphale could not immediately comment.
Ngoka is not new to rushing to court. When he was DC for Machinga, he also obtained a court injunction restraining the state, Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development and their agents from posting him to Lilongwe until the controversy surrounding his posting was clarified.
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Nankhumwa is one of the most corrupt ministers in this government, hence he’s ill-qualified to talk about the corruption in others. He was once alleged to have been involved in corruption, why didn’t he step aside to pave way for investigations? And then there is a case of him selling Blantyre City Council land between Keza Building and the Civic Centre on which he connived with Blantyre City Mayor Wild Ndipo and CEO Dr Bandawe.
I dont see Ngoka getting the damages here because the AG is likely to raise the defence of justification as what the minister is alleged to have said is the truth that Ngoka is not forced leave because on ‘allegations’ of corruption and not bacause of corruption.
Poor people tax payers money