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 two online newspapers, 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”.
The story alleged that a tolling company, KAK Integrated System, owned by the traditional ruler and operating within the National Theatre premises allegedly generated N748million in three years but remitted nothing into the Federation TSA account.
Reacting to the libellous publications through his counsel, Barr Taiwo E. Olawanle of Falana & Falana 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 alleging corrupt activities against the high chief.
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 or face prosecution.
