Vice President Yemi Osinbajo (SAN) on Saturday warned against further publications alleging his ownership of the 21-storey building which collapsed in Ikoyi.
The warning was issued through his lawyer Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa (SAN) to all media houses, journalists, online publishers, bloggers, WhatsApp and other social media groups.
He insisted that he was not associated or connected with the ownership or development of the 21-storey building.
Osinbajo explained that in law, liability for libellous publication is not limited to the author but also those who reproduce it.
He warned of legal consequences against media houses who may reproduce or publish any report linking him as one of the owners of the collapsed building in which several people lost their lives.
The statement reads in part: “We have the mandate of our client to draw your esteemed attention to certain publications of and concerning him, in respect of the 21-storey building that recently collapsed in Ikoyi, Lagos State.
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“These publications, believed to have been sponsored by faceless individuals and entities to tarnish the good name and reputation of our client, claim most spuriously, that our client is connected with the said building, one way or the other, without any scintilla of proof.
“For the records, our client is not involved in, associated or connected with the ownership or development of the collapsed building, in any manner whatsoever.
“This notice has thus become necessary, partly to explain the legal consequences of fabricating falsehood and unsubstantiated negative reports, of and concerning our client.
“In law, liability for libellous publications is not limited to the original author or publisher thereof, but it also extends to and includes all those who, out of sheer ignorance, mischief or malice, or all, cause any libellous publication to be repeated, reposted or re-published, either personally or through any platform for which they have control.
“Accordingly, we have the instructions of our client to compile and preserve the particulars of anyone found to have published, re-published or endorsed or consented to the publication, distribution or circulation of any libellous material, of and concerning him, for the purpose of commencing civil actions in court, in any jurisdiction where such publication occurs.
“We, therefore, implore you not to yield your noble platforms for the dissemination of any libellous publication of and concerning our client, henceforth.”