Peter Mutharika sues Chihana
Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) president Peter Mutharika has sued property valuer Yeremia Chihana for claims that he and his deceased brother Bingu wa Mutharika held a joint bank account.
Peter is also accusing Chihana of making a private communication public.
However, Chihana said on Monday he was ready for the legal battle.
Peter’s move to take Chihana to court comes barely two weeks after Chihana sued DPP and its spokesperson, Nicholas Dausi, for defamation.
According to the statement of claim on civil cause 375 of 2013, on June 25 2013, Chihana wrote Peter, as brother to former president the late Bingu wa Mutharika, asking him to provide details of bank accounts that were held in Bingu’s name with Peter as a co-signatory, administrator or executor.
Through his lawyers, Peter responded on June 26 2013 denying knowledge of any bank accounts held jointly with Bingu, according to the claim.
Wrote Peter’s lawyer, Kalekeni Kaphale: “The said correspondence was, to all intents and purposes, private and not for the consumption of the public. [Chihana] caused the said correspondence to be leaked to [Weekend Nation who] not only to publish its contents, but also to allege, in a sub title that ‘Peter, Bingu had joint accounts—Govt valuers’.”
Peter is claiming general damages for libel and legal costs.
Chihana has been given 14 days to respond to the claim, that is, whether he intends to contest.
Bingu’s wealth has been embroiled in controversy after media reports indicated that he amassed wealth of over K61 billion (about $152m).
