Chairmanship aspirant in Ethiope Local Government Area of Delta State, Augustine Usinefe Ogedegbe has written to TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) over a report published on an alleged invasion and illegal acquisition of land at Okuodiete, Okpe LGA of Delta state.
Ogedegbe in his reaction said he is not a land grabber and argued that the land in question is a subject of dispute in court between two communities.
The aforesaid report, titled: “[See Proof] LG chair aspirant, Augustine Ogedegbe in trouble over alleged land grabbing in Delta” was published in the medium on the 5th of December, 2020.
In his letter to TNG dated 10th December 2020, Mr. Augustine Ogedegbe through his lawyer, M.I Oshiemele (Esq.) described the report as misinformation which is fundamentally in contrast to the true position of the subject matter.
The letter reads: “We state that your reporter through his cohort have fed your establishment with sumptuous meal of misinformation which is fundamentally in contrast to the true position of the afore-mentioned subject matter flowing from your content of the publication and as a result of same you fail woefully to carry out investigative and interpretative journalism and thereby arrived on the wrong premise that:
i. That our client is “a notorious land grabber
ii. That the ownership of the land in dispute is between our client and your alleged professor (name withheld)”. when you did not find out to know that Okurowhe community is laying claim to the land in dispute and that Okurowhe community and OOkuodiete are in court over the said land at Orerokpr High Court.
iii. That the land in dispute you allegedly stated that our client trespassed on is lying and situated at Okuofiete. Without verifying the correct and actual location of the land.
iv. That our client was charged with a charge sheet dated 15th day of, 2020 without you knowing that the charge was a trumped-up charge single-handedly prepared by J.S Oribhabor Esq. Legal Officer Police Force.
By this letter, you and your reporter are hereby given 7 clear days from the date of receipt of this letter to publish a retraction of this publication as well as a written letter of apology addressed to the person of our client.
Kindly be informed that your failure, refusal, and/or neglect to do so will lead to our client instituting a lawsuit against you and your reporter for defamation of character. This lawsuit will include a claim for damages as well as the legal cost of prosecuting the action.
We trust that you will do the needful so that you will not expose yourself to the ominous sword of equity.
A word is sufficient for the wise.