The management of West Midlands Communications, operators of Splash 105.5FM, Ibadan wishes to state categorically that it is entirely false the claim that Splash 105.5FM shared a certain Facebook post where the Executive Governor of Oyo state, Engineer Seyi Makinde was accused of victimising a named professional footballer with 3SC which has now become a potential subject of litigation.
For the avoidance of doubt, it is to be made clear that as ‘ The Integrity Station’ that places great premium on facts and objectivity, Splash 105.5FM did not at any time post, share or use as content the said allegations against the person of the governor.
Our suspicion is that, this is either a case of muddled identity or outright mischief. Therefore, we urge all parties involve to cross check their facts to avoid falsely accusing innocent entities with long cherished reputation built over several years.
As contained in a statement earlier released by the Governor’s legal counsel, the legal action was sequel to reliant facts that showed that the allegations by the Facebook user, Ismaila Ashipa “were made falsely and maliciously alluding to facts that would clearly damage, injure and destroy the reputation of Governor Seyi Makinde which is against the provisions of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
The statement reads: “from the above facts, it becomes pellucid that your willful and malicious actions in making a public post featuring defamatory allegations about our client (Seyi Makinde) on the Facebook website under your profile and social media are not merely Tortious but carry a criminal element as well.
“In consequence of your malicious and defamatory Facebook post on the 5th of October, 2021, our client in the interest of peace has instructed us to demand from you:
“–a complete and unequivocal retraction of the said statements on your Facebook profile by you or your cohorts and a written unreserved apology. tenably, included in these promises and retractions must be a promise that our client will not be further falsely defamed by either you or any of your agents or representatives. we demand with an utmost insistence that these apologies, promises and retractions must be addressed directly (with prominence) to our client and published in at least 3 national daily newspapers.
“–a draft in the sum of N3,000,000,000 (Three Billion Naira only) representing a modest compensation for the damages suffered by our client on account of the worldwide defamatory contents of your captioned Facebook post. this draft mentioned above will be addressed to orphanages of our client’s choosing all over Oyo state.
“Take notice that if we do not hear positively from you within seven working days of your receipt of this letter, we shall without further recourse set the full instrument of the law against your person to duly protect and conserve our client’s life, livelihood, reputation and well-being”.