#EndSARS: Adebola Williams’ lawyers demand retraction of allegation by news site

Lawyers to Adebola Williams, media entrepreneur, has given Peoples Gazette, an online platform, seven days to retract what they call “defamatory and false publication” or face legal action.

On Tuesday, the publication had alleged on its Twitter handle that Williams, at a video meeting with some leaders of the Nigerian business community, asked that the ongoing #EndSARS protests should end.

It tweeted: “Last night, some #EndSARS protesters met with Emefiele, Dangote, three governors and Adebola Williams acquiesced that protests should end. But Yesufu and Abudu insisted Nigerians will not back down until all outstanding issues around police brutality are resolved.”

However, others who attended the meeting, including Aisha Yesufu, one of the protest leaders, immediately replied and denied the report.

In the letter of demand seen by TheCable, Olaniwun Ajayi, of Olaniwun Ajayi Chambers, asked the Peoples Gazette to retract the story and apologise in two national newsapers within seven days.

“We are Solicitors to Adebola Williams on whose instructions we write regarding a tweet you posted online at 12:14 pm on 13.10.20,” he wrote.

“The tweet contains false and malicious report calculated to disparage our Client’s reputation and lower his estimation in the eyes of right-thinking members of the society.

“Specifically, you tweeted that “Last night, some #EndSARS protesters met with Emefiele, Dangote, three governors and Adebola Williams acquiesced that protests should end. But Yesufu and Abudu insisted Nigerians will not back down until all outstanding issues around police brutality are resolved”.

“The natural and ordinary meaning of your tweet is that our Client is insensitive to the plight of Nigerians and the underlying issues of Police The tweet also portrays our Client as ‘doubled faced’ and a pretender who is merely pretending to champion the cause of the masses.

“We are aware that other persons who attended the meeting referred to in your tweet have stated that the report credited to our Client in your tweet is false and advised you to take down the tweet, nonetheless, you have refused to take down the tweet.

“Undoubtedly, your tweet was intended at lowering our Client in the estimation of right-thinking members of the public and to expose him to hatred, contempt and ridicule.

“In light of the above, we have our Client’s instruction to demand: (a) that you publish, in your verified twitter handle and in two National Newspapers, an unreserved apology for the defamatory tweet along with a full retraction of the tweet; (b) that you take down the tweet within seven (7) days from the date of receipt of this letter; and (c) a notification of your compliance be issued to us accordingly.

“Please take notice that where our Client’s request is not met within seven days of your receipt of this letter, our Client will be constrained to seek legal redress against you, without further recourse to you.

“We trust that you will act accordingly.”

Williams co-founded and runs Red Africa, reputed as Africa’s largest portfolio of youth media brands which include Red Media Africa, Statecraft Inc, The Future Awards Africa and YNaija.com.