By Chukwudi Nweje, Lagos
Afrobeat maestro Seun Kuti has vowed to face Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Dr Bolaji Ayorinde (SAN), Principal Partner at BA LAW LLP, who represented Nigeria in the P&ID gas processing contract case, anywhere he wants, insisting that the post he made on social media is of public interest.
Kuti on October 31, 2023, posted on his Instagram page that Dr Ayorinde shared information with P&ID while representing Nigeria in the arbitration, an accusation Ayorinde has denied.
Ayorinde has dragged Kuti before a court in Oyo State alleging he was defamed by the post.
But, addressing a press conference at the Kalakuta Museum, Ikeja, Kuti said, he merely posted what the United Kingdom trial Judge, Justice Robert Knowles, said in his 140-page judgement.
He said, “I went through the entire 140 pages, and everything I mentioned came straight from that judgement. But now, Ayorinde, who was Nigeria’s representation in the case, is dragging me to court, saying I defamed him. I’m surprised that he is dragging me before a court in Oyo State when we are both in Lagos.”
He said his interest in the P&ID issue is prompted by patriotism as the money Nigeria saved from the judgement is too humongous for any right-thinking Nigerian to ignore.
He further said, “My interest in the case is that of any patriotic citizen of this country; anyone who is patriotic should be interested in this case. As a patriotic citizen deeply committed to the well-being and integrity of our nation, I believe in the importance of raising concerns about issues that affect the nation’s interests.
“I am surprised that despite the result of this case. No one is talking about it in Nigeria, not even a comment from the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA). In England, the case has had a serious effect on their arbitration system; from their tertiary institutions to their law institutions, the case is being analysed to reform their system of arbitration.
“I called the press here today to carry them along and be with me as the eyes and ears of the Nigerian people. I didn’t call the press to be on my side but to monitor this issue to the end, to educate Nigerians to open their eyes.
Kuti called for a thorough investigation into the matter and expressed optimism that he would be justified.
“I stand by everything I have said on the case, I am ready to meet him in the court and I am optimistic that I will win this case because it runs in my family to fight against cases like this that affect the nation’s interest,” he said.