A lawyer, Chief Yinka Oguntimehin of Yinka Oguntimehin & co, has petitioned the Nigeria Police Force and the Department of State Services (DSS) over alleged defamation publication and threat to his life and that of his client, Otunba Wole Ogunbayo.
In the multiple petitions, addressed to the Area Commader, Nigeria Police Force, Sagamu Area Command and the Director, Department of State Services (DSS), Ogun state command, and titled: Petition on Azeez Oladimeji Ashiru’s Criminal activities calculated at causing a breach of public peace, civil unrest and threat to the life of and properties of Otunba Wole Ogunbayo of Amba Properties Limited, Oguntimehin alleged that “Azeez Oladimeji Ashiru resorted to criminal acts, defamatory publication, cyber bullying and threats against our Chief Yinka Oguntimehin through numerous publications made by him on his mobile telephone number,”
The petition further stated: “We are Solicitors to Otunba Wole Ogunbayo and Amba Properties Limited hereinafter referred to as our Clients and on whose instruction we write.
“Please be informed that Otunba Wole Ogunbayo is the alter ego of Amba Properties Limited.Whereas Otunba Wole Ogunbayo is a philanthropist, community and church leader, property consultant and business man of good repute; Amba Properties Limited is a reputable company well known for property management, real estate consultancy and facilities management for more than two decades.
“Our Clients have referred your false, malicious and defamatory content published through Azeez Ashiru on phone number 08034237237 via whatsapp medium on the 3rd of June, 2024 and via STV 24 television medium around 22.56 and 22:59 on the 3rd of June, 2024 to members of the general public and the whole world and accordingly sought our intervention.
“You maliciously published the said defamatory content to members of the general public and the whole world as follows: ‘Please save us from AMBA and Gani Onimale. He has stationed land grabbers on the farm land, They are after us.’
Oguntimehin expalined the said publications have damaged the reputation of his client, Otunba Wole Ogunbayo, who he described as a highly respected chief in Remoland and a devout christian.
“This man published several damaging messages about my client. For the records, Otunba Wole Ogunbayo is the managing director/CEO of Amba Properties Limited, a company he established in February 2002. He is reputable well known for Property Management, Real Estate Consultant and Facilities Management in Nigeria.
“Beyond this, he is a well-decorated chief in Remoland. Among his titles are, Akile of Itori Land; Otunba Fiwagboye of Ijoku Land; Bashorun of Isara Remo; Diocesan Adviser to Remo Anglican Diocese on Property Matters; Baba Ewe of Emmanuel Anglican Church and an award of honour by the Nigeria Police Force, Sagamu Area Command among several others.”
Speaking on the possible cause of the crisis, Oguntimehin explained that Ashiru Azeez resorted to blackmails and threats after several failures to grab some land that was purchased by Amba Properties some years ago.
“The real reason behind all of this is Ashiru’s failure to grab some parcels of land that Otunba purchased Otunba Ogunbayo purchased some acres of land from the original owners some years ago. He has tried several tricks, but has failed. The latest of the criminal activities of Azeez Oladimeji Ashiru is the orchestration of false, malicious and defamatory content published on his phone number.”
Oguntimehin stated that Ashiru Azeez, who he alleged started sponsoring frivolous petitions and campaign of calumny against them since the year 2019, has variously dodged efforts to serve him court summons, while he has also refused to answer invitations by the police and the DSS.
“The purpose of this is to alert the world to the desperation of this man. We have observed that he is getting more desperate as the days pass bye. All these acts of blackails and treats cannot work,” Oguntimehin maintained.
