Lagos Traditional Ruler Slams N50m Libel Suit on Two Online Newspapers
The traditional ruler of Otumara community in Lagos, High Chief Kehinde Kalejaiye, has slammed N50million defamation suit against two online newspapers, societyreporters.com and newsbreaknaija.com.
The mediums, through reports on their separate news portal published on April 9, 2023 with the headline, “Concerned Staff of National Theatre Petition ICPC to Wade into Corrupt Activities of Top Director, Femi Joel, Co-Conspirators” alleged that a tolling company, KAK Integrated System, owned by the revered traditional ruler and operating within the National Theatre premises allegedly generated the sum of N748million (Seven Hundred and Forty-Eight Million Naira) in three years but remitted nothing into the Federation TSA account.
Source: UGC
Reacting to the libellous publications through his counsel, Barr Taiwo E. Olawanle (LP) of Falana & Falana’s Chambers, Kalejaiye described the reports as wicked, embarrassing and targeted at defaming his character and reputation, particularly as the anti-graft, Independent Corrupt Practices and Other related Offences Commission (ICPC) has denied the receipt of any petition from the Concerned Staff of National Theatre allegedly corrupt activities against Kalejaiye.
The counsel stated that the reports suggested that his client is a criminal that should be thrown behind bars.
He therefore demanded an immediate retraction of the offensive and derogatory publications accompanied with an apology published on the websites and damages in the sum of N50million (Fifty Million Naira) of face prosecution.
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The letter titled, “Propagation of defamatory and libellous statements against High Chief Kehinde Kalejaiye”, dated April 10, 2023 and separately mailed to each of the publisher of societyreporters.com and newsbreaknaija.com read in part, “We write on behalf of Chief Kehinde Kalejaiye (hereinafter referred to as “our client”), and on whose instructions we write you.
The attention of our client has been drawn to your online newspaper publication of April 9, 2023 titled: “Concerned Staff of National Theatre Petition ICPC to Wade into Corrupt Activities of Top Director, Femi Joel, Co-Conspirators” wherein you alleged that our client, a reputable and highly revered citizen of this country, High Chief Kehinde Kalejaiye, who is trading under the name and style of KAK Integrated System, operates tolling exercise within the National Theatre premises and generated about Seven Hundred and Forty-Eight Million Naira in the last three years but remitted nothing into the Federation TSA account.
It is, therefore, embarrassing that you decided to defame the character and reputation of our client through your publication.
With this publication and its content, you and your medium have misinformed the general public that our client is enmeshed in corrupt activities.
The direct meaning, imputation, purport and/or innuendo or insinuation of the false, misleading, libellous and defamatory statement means our client is a criminal that should be behind bars.
It is clear beyond doubt that your publication was a wicked and reckless ploy to impugn the reputation of our client and lower him in the estimation of right-thinking members of the public especially his subjects.
We, therefore, demand an immediate retraction of the offensive and derogatory publication and an apology published on your website. We also demand damages in the sum of N50, 000,000.00 (Fifty Million Naira).
Be advised that if we do not receive your formal retraction and apology and damages as demanded forthwith, we shall proceed to seek appropriate legal remedies for your infraction.”
Meanwhile, the Society for Transparency and Social Development has called for the suspension and investigation of Prof. Sunny Ododo led management team of the National Theatre over alleged looting of assets and misappropriation of funds of the parastatal.
In a petition written to the Economic and financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and signed by the Corporate Director of the organisation, Taiwo Osipitan, the management under Prof. Sunny Ododo was alleged to have massively looted and stolen assets of the National Theatre under the guise of privatisation.
He stated:
“The general manager of the National Theatre, Prof. Sunny Ododo claimed that he was authorised by the Board of the national theatre to sell property of the parastatal was false as the Board reply to the query by the Ministry suggested that no such approval was given to that effect.
FG warns against selling of national heritages
Meanwhile, Legit.ng had previously reported that that the management of the national theatre, Lagos, reportedly leased out a portion of land within the premises to a private business owner.
It was reported that Lai Mohammed had warned against giving out any portion of the national heritage to individuals.
Speaking at the official handing over ceremony of the edifice to the CBN bankers’ committee, Lai Mohammed stated that the national theatre remains a national heritage and that it should not be ceded to any person or group.
Source: Legit.ng
