NUST infighting: Kaumbi threatens to sue Haufiku
The Namibia University of Science and Technology’s (NUST) legal head Joshua Kaumbi wants to sue the institution’s spokesperson, John Haufiku, for defamation.
This over public comments Haufiku allegedly made in which he accused Kaumbi of leaking confidential information to the press.
Kaumbi, through his lawyers TK Kaurivi Legal Practitioners, said his reputation has been damaged by the allegations.
Haufiku confirmed receiving a letter of demand in which his colleague is threatening to institute a N$500 000 lawsuit if the claims are not retracted.
The deadline for the retraction was set for yesterday, 18 July, while Haufiku is also expected to publish his retraction along with an apology in the New Era, The Namibian and Namibian Sun newspapers by 21 July.
Kaumbi, who was suspended on 28 April this year, accused Haufiku of making deliberate comments to paint him as a dishonest person with no integrity or credibility, who is disloyal to the university and is in breach of his fiduciary duties.
Reasonable suspicion
On Monday, Kaumbi instructed his lawyers to take Haufiku to task for saying he was suspended for leaking information to the media and that there is reasonable suspicion that he is indeed the source of the leaked information.
Haufiku has also been asked to retract saying there is proof Kaumbi leaked the information, but that the matter should go through due process.
The alleged proof includes emails, text messages and eye witness to whom Kaumbi reportedly leaked information.
“Our instructions are that the publication you made was false and was published with the intention to defame our client. It is our instructions that your statements are devoid of any truth and we have instructions to demand that you provide the proof which you alleged to have,” Kaumbi’s legal team wrote.
“According to our instructions, the statement, innuendos, insinuations and suggestions made by you were published with the intention to injure our client’s reputation and lower his esteem in the eyes of the staff of the university and in the eyes of the Namibian community at large.”
Fool’s errand
Haufiku responded that he cannot take the letter of demand seriously at this stage because it contains a number of errors.
“Hopefully they will fix it and then I am happy to engage on its content.
“Any competent lawyer would know that speaking on behalf of management is my contractual obligation. To pursue me personally for it is therefore a fool’s errand,” he said.
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This over public comments Haufiku allegedly made in which he accused Kaumbi of leaking confidential information to the press.
Kaumbi, through his lawyers TK Kaurivi Legal Practitioners, said his reputation has been damaged by the allegations.
Haufiku confirmed receiving a letter of demand in which his colleague is threatening to institute a N$500 000 lawsuit if the claims are not retracted.
The deadline for the retraction was set for yesterday, 18 July, while Haufiku is also expected to publish his retraction along with an apology in the New Era, The Namibian and Namibian Sun newspapers by 21 July.
Kaumbi, who was suspended on 28 April this year, accused Haufiku of making deliberate comments to paint him as a dishonest person with no integrity or credibility, who is disloyal to the university and is in breach of his fiduciary duties.
Reasonable suspicion
On Monday, Kaumbi instructed his lawyers to take Haufiku to task for saying he was suspended for leaking information to the media and that there is reasonable suspicion that he is indeed the source of the leaked information.
Haufiku has also been asked to retract saying there is proof Kaumbi leaked the information, but that the matter should go through due process.
The alleged proof includes emails, text messages and eye witness to whom Kaumbi reportedly leaked information.
“Our instructions are that the publication you made was false and was published with the intention to defame our client. It is our instructions that your statements are devoid of any truth and we have instructions to demand that you provide the proof which you alleged to have,” Kaumbi’s legal team wrote.
“According to our instructions, the statement, innuendos, insinuations and suggestions made by you were published with the intention to injure our client’s reputation and lower his esteem in the eyes of the staff of the university and in the eyes of the Namibian community at large.”
Fool’s errand
Haufiku responded that he cannot take the letter of demand seriously at this stage because it contains a number of errors.
“Hopefully they will fix it and then I am happy to engage on its content.
“Any competent lawyer would know that speaking on behalf of management is my contractual obligation. To pursue me personally for it is therefore a fool’s errand,” he said.
[email protected]
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