Condemns Misleading And Defamatory Attacks On Him

By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

Residents of Oko Orisan Community in Epe area of Lagos State have frowned at the malicious publication against the Chairman/CEO of Harmony Gardens and Estate Development Limited, Honourable (Alhaji) Saheed Audullahi Mosadoluwa aka Ibile.

They also demanded a retraction of what they described as a libelous statement against their benefactor, (Alhaji Mosadoluwa) which was published in Sahara Reporters on Wednesday March 19, 2025.

Reacting in a statement on Thursday, March 20, 2025, on behalf of Oko Orisan Community, Rev. (Mrs) Kemisola Oduntan denied the content of the report, titled: “Notorious Land Grabber Saheed ‘Ibile’ Mosadoluwa’s Injury Cover-Up Exposed As Medical Report Confirms Gunshot Wounds” and the innuendoes contained in it, published on Wednesday.

She said every allegation against Alhaji Mosadoluwa in the said publication was false and defamatory of his person and character.

The cleric described the misleading and malicious publication as a direct attack on the fundamental human rights of Alhaji Mosadoluwa which could cause him reputational damage, adding that it was callous for Sahara Reporters not to conduct its investigation properly before going to press, rather it chose to malign the integrity of a high profile Nigerian known for philanthropic and humanitarian gestures, who stands tall in taking the credit of keeping the record of impacting numerous lives positively in and outside the Epe community.

Investigations vividly revealed that the Naval Base in Oko Orisan and Majestic Bay Estate owned by Alhaji Audullahi Saheed Mosadoluwa had no land dispute whatsoever, despite the fact that they share boundaries. Checks further have it that the previous Naval officers deployed to that neighborhood for routine security have been living in peace and harmony with the entire Oju-Ota and Oko Orisan communities until the recent assassination attempt on Honourable Mosadoluwa and his son, a ugly incident which took place a few weeks back.

The statement reads in parts, “The malicious and misleading publication in Sahara Reporters on Wednesday March 19, 2025 against Honourable Saheed Audullahi Mosadoluwa was the height of junk journalism. The beauty of that noble profession is investigation and proper and unbiased balancing of stories with strict adherence to ethical considerations and guidelines. This is not the case in this instance, however Sahara Reporters chose to drag the name of a responsible and law abiding citizen known to our community in the mud with the intent to satisfy the bidding of its pay masters without recourse to what excellent journalism stands for. Worse still it came up with misleading medical records which in any way did not uphold the merit of the vicious, callous, and misleading reports captured in the news portal.

“We also task the DSS officials to query the purported medical document which Sahara Reporters published and also engage the officials of Ogba Magistrate Court on how sensitive and classified documents kept in trust and in their custody got leaked. Such actions are not only unjustifiable but also reflect the increasing hostility against such an affable and amiable employer of labour, a taxpayer, a man of high moral rectitude, highly decorous, disciplined and of flawless dignity, this is reprehensible and totally unacceptable. We also state unequivocally that there was no case of land-grabbing activities at all, in Oko Orisan Community as falsely published. What previously happened in the community was a clear case of assasination attempt which was foiled and the erring Naval officers and the assailants are already answering questions by the relevant authorities in accordance with the law of Nigeria.

“The foregoing publications, which are in fact untrue, baseless and misleading that said some bad eggs in Navy Uniform attempted to assassinate the owner of Majestic Bay, Oju-Ota in Oko Orisan but narrowly escaped with his son must be thoroughly investigated and not swept under the carpet. Enough of malicious, and defamatory publication by Sahara Reporters to impugn the reputation of Alhaji Mosadoluwa and Oko Orisan as a community, is a crass misadventure and will surely attract legal implications in due course. This is because the media is expected to uphold its hallmark which is truth and good conscience.

“Sahara Reporters ought to be aware that as a news and media platform, it is duty bound to disseminate only credible and factual information. Your publication, which is laced with falsehoods, specifically injures the reputation of our benefactor and as well lowered his reputation before right thinking members of the public. In the light of the foregoing, we demand the immediate retraction of the said publication of 19th March, 2025, an apology to be published on your media platform.

“Be advised that in the absence or failure to comply with the forgoing demands within 7 days of this statement, the community shall commence appropriate legal actions in court against your organization. Nigeria is governed by law, therefore no one should be seen to be above the law, peddling falsehoods or misrepresenting facts under any guise, including the media, especially Sahara Reporters.”

The community also called on all relevant stakeholders including the media to join them in condemning persistent media attacks on Alhaji Mosadoluwa, by Sahara Reporters and its ilk, while also emphasizing that such actions undermine the tenets of constitutional democracy and the principles of excellent journalism and propriety.