Editor, Punch newspapers online, John Abayomi has threatened to sue the publisher of Linda Ikeji blog, Linda Ikeji for publishing false and malicious story about him.
In the letter delivered to the blogger on Friday, a copy of which was sighted by TheNewsGuru, Linda was asked to tender an unreserved apology within forty-eight hours or risk legal action.
SEE: Falana-letter-lindaikeji (1)
Editor, Punch newspapers online, John Abayomi has threatened to sue the publisher of Linda Ikeji blog, Linda Ikeji for publishing false and malicious story about him.
Abayomi through his lawyer, Falana and Falana’s Chambers claimed that the publication with the headline, ‘LIB Exclusive: Meet the owner of Instablog9ja-John Abayomi’ has put his life and that of his family in danger.
In the letter delivered to the blogger on Friday, a copy of which was sighted by TheNewsGuru, Linda was asked to tender an unreserved apology within forty-eight hours or risk legal action.
Linda in the said publication has claimed that ‘the owner of instablog9ja is John Abayomi, a former online editor of Vanguard news and current online editor of Punch’.
However, Falana said the statement is untrue and unfounded, but only calculated to lower Abayomi’s esteem and damage his reputation and professional career.
“Your publication has put him in the harm’s way, thereby endangering his life and the lives of his family members. It has also attracted a lot of negative reactions from members of the public including celebrities who has been eager to know the face behind the blunt and sarcastic blog because of the method of reportage”.
“Your mendacious publication was clearly actuated by malice in that it was deliberately done to portray our client as an imposter, a fraudster and a blackmailer”
“In the light of the foregoing, we have our client’s firm instructions to demand an unqualified apology together with a retraction of the libelous publication in the edition of your blog (Linda Ikeji blog) in addition to having the retraction published on Instagram.
“However, if you fail or refuse to accede to our client’s demands within 48 hours of the receipt of this letter, we shall have no option than to initiate civil proceedings against you at the Lagos State High Court without further recourse to you,” reads the letter which was signed by Chukwuma Onwuemene (ESQ.).
A reliable source has also rubbished reports that board members of Punch Newspapers met over Linda Ikeji’s publication.
“It is totally untrue. There was no such meeting. Everybody close to him, including his employers are aware that Linda Ikeji’s publication was completely untrue,” the source said.
Online Editor of Punch newspaper, John Abayomi was all over social media yesterday as Linda Ikeji’s blog alleged that he owns popular instagram page, Instablog9ja.
Mr. Abayomi however denied the claims that he owned Instablog.
It was gathered that Abayomi was summoned before the management board of Punch newspapers as the story broke on social media to explain .
Linda Ikeji in her blog alleged that Abayomi had been running the platform since 2015, combining it with his daily duty at the 42-year-old media house.
According to an inside source within the Punch Newspaper; “Abayomi was summoned into a high-level editorial meeting over the controversial story.”
The infringement in this case is regarded as ‘moonlighting’; a case where someone has a second job despite being in full employment with another employer which the management of Punch newspaper do not condone.
“Everyone is confused and asking questions. Mr Abayomi is a dedicated man who is always in the office. I wonder where he would get the spare time to handle a blog like Instablog9ja, so I think it is untrue until investigations are complete.” says source.
During the emergency meeting with his current employers, Abayomi denied the reports and described it as totally untrue he also vowed to sue Linda Ikeji for defamation of character.