There seems to be a new update in the recent feud between New
York based publiser of Sahara Reporters, Omoyele Sowore and journalist,
Lekan Fatodu.
A new press release from the law firm representing Fatodu says
Sowore has been barred from leaving the country until further notice.
Read the statement after the cut…
The press release reads:
We are Solicitors to LEKAN FATODU, a UK-based journalist and PR consultant and we issue this statement as his Solicitors.
It
can be recalled that Fatodu Lekan (Our Client) had filed a petition to
the Police Command Headquarters in Lagos State including a previous
petition sent to the office of the IGP in Abuja against OMOLEYE SOWORE
of Sahara Reporters over criminal defamation, threat to life and
Blackmail.
can be recalled that Fatodu Lekan (Our Client) had filed a petition to
the Police Command Headquarters in Lagos State including a previous
petition sent to the office of the IGP in Abuja against OMOLEYE SOWORE
of Sahara Reporters over criminal defamation, threat to life and
Blackmail.
The circumstance of Sowore’s arrest
on Wednesday 11th January 2017 over his false alarm to the Police which
was actually Sowore’s plan to conceal his criminal assault on Lekan
Fatodu and his friend, Andre, on that very day made the Police to first
take him to AREA F COMMAND Ikeja, and finally to the State Criminal
Investigation Department (SCID) in Panti for thorough investigation of
the matter.
on Wednesday 11th January 2017 over his false alarm to the Police which
was actually Sowore’s plan to conceal his criminal assault on Lekan
Fatodu and his friend, Andre, on that very day made the Police to first
take him to AREA F COMMAND Ikeja, and finally to the State Criminal
Investigation Department (SCID) in Panti for thorough investigation of
the matter.
Sowore brought Dr. Abayomi to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Panti to plead on his behalf.
After
much persuasion, the respectable lawyer was able to open a window for
mediation and offered reconciliation meeting in his office in Lagos for
January 17 2017.
much persuasion, the respectable lawyer was able to open a window for
mediation and offered reconciliation meeting in his office in Lagos for
January 17 2017.
Mr. Fatodu objected in the first place, but
in order for it not to appear as if he was hell-bent on fomenting
trouble, he accepted peaceful resolution on the grounds that the
defamatory publication by Sahara Reporters would be withdrawn, and an
unreserved apology tendered.
in order for it not to appear as if he was hell-bent on fomenting
trouble, he accepted peaceful resolution on the grounds that the
defamatory publication by Sahara Reporters would be withdrawn, and an
unreserved apology tendered.
It was agreed that cyber exchanges should be suspended till Tuesday
when a meeting was fixed, but not up to three hours after leaving
Panti, Sowore started saying different things on social media. Mr.
Sowore violated the terms of the temporary truce reached by both
parties.
when a meeting was fixed, but not up to three hours after leaving
Panti, Sowore started saying different things on social media. Mr.
Sowore violated the terms of the temporary truce reached by both
parties.
However, while Our Client and our Law
Firm represented by Julie Ifeonu ESQ honoured the meeting, Sowore
Omoleye failed to show up for reasons best known to him.
Firm represented by Julie Ifeonu ESQ honoured the meeting, Sowore
Omoleye failed to show up for reasons best known to him.
As
if to prove that he only wanted to buy time, Mr. Sowore said, through
two of his lawyers that was present at the meeting, he was no longer
interested in the dialogue.
if to prove that he only wanted to buy time, Mr. Sowore said, through
two of his lawyers that was present at the meeting, he was no longer
interested in the dialogue.
Mr. Fatodu respected Dr. Abayomi that was why he accepted to discuss in the first place.
We are sure that Dr. Abayomi must have been shocked over the attitude of Omoleye Sowore.
Omoyele Sowore of Sahara Reporters has been advised not to flee Nigeria in order to escape the long arm of the law.
Since
Mr. Sowore has decided to pull out of the civil discussion facilitated
by Dr. Tunji Abayomi, he should be prepared to face the legal process
ahead as instructed by Our Client.
Mr. Sowore has decided to pull out of the civil discussion facilitated
by Dr. Tunji Abayomi, he should be prepared to face the legal process
ahead as instructed by Our Client.
Sowore is counseled to rather assemble a team of lawyers that will defend him in court.
Although,
he has consistently denied the criminal matters brought against him,
the evidences against Mr. Sowore are incontrovertible Our Client
insists.
he has consistently denied the criminal matters brought against him,
the evidences against Mr. Sowore are incontrovertible Our Client
insists.
Our Client has given Sowore the room to apologise for his falsehood, but he willingly decided to throw his food to the dog.
The
next option is to meet in court to face CRIMINAL DEFAMATION, THREAT TO
LIFE, ASSAULT from the Police and LIBEL from our Law Firm.
next option is to meet in court to face CRIMINAL DEFAMATION, THREAT TO
LIFE, ASSAULT from the Police and LIBEL from our Law Firm.
There is no more room for talks, talk is cheap. Let the laws of the land take its course.
18-01-17
Signed
OSUAGWU Ugochukwu ESQ
SOLICITOR AND COUNSEL TO LEKAN FATODU
