Alleged
Libelous Story Against Tunde Folawiyo
GLOBAL
EXCELLENCE MAGAZINE Editor, Kunle Rasheed, Dissociates Self
"It is necessary to set the record straight
regarding the alleged adultery story written in some news mediums about Mr.
Tunde Folawiyo. To the best of my knowledge, his alleged amorous affair with
ex-Miss Lux, Mrs. Ifeoma Williams, has been a feast for the online media for
along time. This I never knew, though, until my attention was called to it by
Tunde’s younger brother, Yomi, a friend, who, knowing I wield some level of
popularity among journalists, asked me to help talk to online publishers who
had published the story on their blogs to please take them down. I did not disappoint.
A few days after succeeding in taking off the
story from the internet, Yomi again called my attention to the fact that two
weekly magazines namely Encomium and Global News have written the story, but
according to him, Global News owned by Segun Ogunbunmi did not do an objective
piece.
It was then I urged Yomi to create familiarity
with major players in the media so they would see him as a friend. He agreed
and called a meeting with some editors. The Global News publisher, Segun
Ogunbunmi, was part of the meeting. We all met for about one hour at a lounge
on Opebi Road, Ikeja. We chatted intimately before we left the venue
Yomi later called a fresh meeting and he
specifically requested for Segun Ogunbunmi to be part of it. Convinced that
that second meeting would further cement his relationship with the Folawiyos,
having being singled out based on the story published in his magazine, I
ensured that Segun attended the meeting. It was while the meeting was in
progress that some policemen banged on the three of us and whisked us to the
Zone 2 police headquarters in Lagos Island where they said we were wanted for
questioning. Surprisingly, on getting to Zone 2, the police said that Segun was
their target, so they asked both Yomi and I to go free. It was there and then
that I realized I had been used by the Folawiyos to nail a friend and
professional colleague.
Meanwhile, I was shocked to behold later how the
police had caused a statement to be issued in the media labeling me a criminal
that was arrested for criminal libel and that I was only released on bail. For
the record, I have not written anything on the Folawiyos for some months. The
only one I did of recent was about Yomi Folawiyo’s child dedication. I also
caused some of my media friends to publish it in their respective publication.
Therefore, I’m asking the Folawiyos to produce a
proof of the claim that I have libeled them. With my experience in the last
three days, I have come to realize that the intention of the Folawiyos is just
to rub my treasured name in the mud. In a civilized world, Tunde Folawiyo
should know what a civil case is; as such he should not resort to harassing
innocent persons.
A good name is more desirable than great riches
and to be esteemed is better than silver or gold. On this basis, I demand a
full apology from the Folawiyos; failure to do so, I will seek redress in the
law court.
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