Lawyer Fugar sues former UG VC for ‘defamatory’ content of book

A private legal practitioner and founder of Fugar& Company, William Edem Fugar, has sued a former Vice Chancellor of the University of Ghana, Prof. Ivan Addae-Mensah, for defamation owing to the content of his newly published book titled “My Life.”

According to the plaintiff, some words published by the defendant in certain portions of the book are defamatory of him, and thus seeking an order from the court for the copies of the book in circulation to be withdrawn.

In his Statement of Claim signed by Marietta Brew of Lithur Brew and Co., he notes that in the book, which was launched in December 2023, the former VC, who was once the General Secretary of the People’s National Convention (PNC), sought to provide a recount of events that led to the choice of Limann as Presidential Candidate of the party in the 1979 elections.

He, however, adds that on Page 415, in his quest to give an account of a certain court proceeding in which he (the plaintiff) represented two persons, he stated erroneously that he abandoned his clients, leading to the case being thrown out by the court.

Lawyer Fugah thus insists that the above is false and that the said case was heard by the trial judge, Justice Cecilia Koanteng-Addow, in favor of his clients.

As such, he indicates that the claims published in the book portray him as a lawyer who acted unethically and contrary to his professional obligations, which thus lowers his esteem in the eyes of right-thinking members of society.

Additionally, referring to other statements made on pages 414 to 415 of the book, the plaintiff notes that those attributions erroneously portray him as a tool for his clients to abuse the court processes in an unprofessional and unethical manner for ulterior purposes.

He is thus seeking an order of perpetual injunction restraining Professor Addae Mensah from further publicizing the offending passages, as well as damages for libel and aggravated damages.