LAND GRABBING: I’m A Legitimate Contractor, If State Govt Have Issues with FG, They Should Go and Address It – Afuye Fires Back, Threatens to Sue Online Publisher for Libel
LAND GRABBING: I’m A Legitimate Contractor, If State Govt Have Issues with FG, They Should Go and Address It – Afuye Fires Back, Threatens to Sue Online Publisher for Libel.
Former Chairman of the 11 Local Government Areas, and 14 Local Council Development Areas(LCDA’s) in Ibadan Land, and a notable Contractor, Honourable Abdul-Rasheed Lekan Afuye has threatened to sue an online publisher over a media content he described as libelous news story.
An online medium had earlier published a story titled,”Oyo govt issues stern warning to land grabber, Lekan Afuye“.
While reacting to land grabbing accusations, Afuye maintained that he is a legitimate contractor duly contracted by Federal Government of Nigeria to work on the said land in question and he stated that, if state government has any issue with FG, it should go and short it out rather than levelling unfounded, malicious, defamatory and frivolous allegations against him, and his person.
“I’ve been inundated with calls, text messages, and other communicative contents, through different interactive digital platforms, from political associates and business partners, at home and in diasporas, over an unfounded, malicious, defamatory and frivolous allegations reportedly levelled against me, by the state government, and unprofessionally reported by an online medium. I don’t understand what state government is saying and it seems they wanted to make issues out of no issues. Please, if Oyo State government have any issues with federal government, they should go and address it rather than dragging my name into mud.
As claimed by the online medium that the former council boss directed some operators to destroy roughly about 8 buildings at the said landed property, reportedly located at Dominican University, Samonda, in Ibadan North, Afuye refuted the allegation and maintained that as a legitimate contractor, none of his action has ever been illegal.
The former council helmsman, Afuye also described the assertion of the medium that he and some operators were later detained for interrogation till Monday after being arrested, and he vowed to take the appropriate legal steps on the actionable news story.
“I’m a legitimate contractor and none of my actions has ever been illegal. If it is true, as it has been reported, that Oyo-State acting governor made any statement against my person, I’m very sure that it is politically motivated. Definitely, the news reportage of the online medium is libellous and actionable. I will definitely take appropriate legal actions against them.
The Business Magnate, Hon. Afuye cleared the air of controversies on the ownership issues surrounding the said land in question.”To set the records straight, at any point in time, I’ve never claimed the ownership of the said land at Samonda. As a contractor, I’m only, lawfully, contracted by Federal Government of Nigeria, under the watch of Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, as mandated by Senate Committee on Lands, Housing and Urban Development, to work on the site. So, to that effects, I’m given letter of authority to clear the parcel of land, therefore, my company’s operations over there are legitimate and it remains as such. As I said earlier, state government should go and settle their ownership power tussles with FG.
