Global News publishers
arrested over libelious story about Tunde Folawiyo and Ifeoma Williams…
The
publishers of Global News were yesterday arrested in connection with a
scandalous story involving Tunde Folawiyo, the business magnate and
entrepreneur.
Segun
Ogunbunmi of Global News and Kunle Rasheed of Global Excellence were arrested
after publishing a story in Global News which alleged that Mr. Folawiyo had
been involved in an affair with former beauty queen Ifeoma Williams. (Screen
shot of the story above)
Mr.
Folawiyo had responded, through his solicitors, demanding a full retraction of
the story as well as a public apology. In a letter, Folawiyo’s solicitors gave
Mr. Ogunbunmi a maximum of 7 days to issue a satisfactory apology.
The
letter, dated 12th July, warned that Mr. Ogunbunmi was liable to face criminal
charges based on the defamatory nature of the Global News article. Following
Mr. Ogunbunmi’s failure to retract the story, the matter was reported to AIG of
Zone 2 as well as Umar Manko, the Lagos State Commissioner of Police in another
letter.
The
letter stated in part:
"I
sincerely urge you to use your good offices to investigate the actions of Mr.
Ogunbunmi and his organisation with a view to prosecuting them for criminal
libel,"
"I
fear that the very fabric of our society will continue to decay if
'journalists' such as this are allowed to publish defamatory statements
recklessly and with impunity against well meaning Nigerians."
The
arrest of Messrs Ogunbunmi and Rasheed was a direct result of an investigation
of criminal libel as investigated by the police. It was also instructive to
note that the pair had failed to respond to several invitations by the police
and were consequently detained in Zone 2 police headquarters. Mr. Rasheed has
since been released while Mr. Ogunbunmi remains in police custody.
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