Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has threatened to sue all media or persons that partook in the dissemination of libelous content about him as regards the collapsed high-rise building at Ikoyi, Lagos State, Southwest Nigeria.
Gatekeepers News reports that Osinbajo has reiterated that the publications associating him with the 21-storey building that recently collapsed are without any scintilla of proof.
The Vice President reiterated this in a statement signed by his solicitor, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, and addressed to several all media houses, journalists, online publishers, bloggers, WhatsApp, and other social media group leaders, etc.
Adegboruwa emphasised that “these publications, believed to have been sponsored by faceless individuals and entities to tarnish the good name and reputation of our Client (the Vice President)…”
He added, “For the records, our Client (the Vice President) is not involved in, associated, or connected with the ownership or development of the collapsed building, in any manner whatsoever.”
According to him, “This notice has thus become necessary, partly to explain the legal consequences of fabricating falsehood and unsubstantiated negative reports, of and concerning our client.”
The Solicitor stressed that “In law, liability for libelous publications is not limited to the original author or publisher thereof, but it also extends to and includes all those who, out of sheer ignorance, mischief or malice, or all, cause any libelous publication to be repeated, reposted or re-published, either personally or through any platform for which he/she has control.”
Adegboruwa further wrote, “Accordingly, we have the instructions of our Client (the Vice President) to compile and preserve the particulars of anyone found to have published, re-published or endorsed or consented to the publication, distribution or circulation of any libelous material, of and concerning him, for the purpose of commencing civil actions in court, in any jurisdiction where such publication occurs.”
He, therefore, advised all media not to yield their noble platforms for the dissemination of any libelous publication of and concerning his Client (the Vice President), henceforth.
