Alhaji Ibrahim Dende Egungbohun, an Ogun state-born businessman, has filed a defamation lawsuit against Arise Media Group (the owner of Arise Television), journalist Fisayos Soyombo, and his online platform, Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ), alleging that he was labelled a smuggler and gun runner in their reports.
Dende, in the complaint, CV/2286/24, brought before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) by lawyer Bola Aidi (SAN), criticised the purported offensive reports by Soyombo, FIJ, and Arise TV, which portrayed him as a smuggler and gun runner.
In a statement of claim, the claimant stated that he was described as the largest smuggler and gun runner in the country’s South West region by Soyombo and FIJ (the first and second defendants) through their online platform and micro-blogging site, X (formerly Twitter).
Dende accused Arise Media Group of airing the defamatory reports on its “Morning Show” programme.
Egungbohun, who characterised himself as a hardworking and successful businessman with high-ranking acquaintances, accused Soyombo and the FIJ of suggesting he was involved in smuggling guns and bullets into the country’s south-east.
The claimant said his “hard work, integrity, dedication, and tenacity have given him business goodwill among well-meaning Nigerians and have enabled him to establish business and personal relationships with top Nigerian businessmen and politicians, including the Nigerian President, His Excellency, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and the and the incumbent Governor of Ogun State, His Excellency, amongst several others.”
